William and Mary Proclaimed Joint Sovereigns of Britain
Following the Glorious Revolution of 1688, King James II fled England after Parliament invited his Protestant daughter Mary and her husband William of Orange to intervene against his Catholic policies and perceived absolutism. A Convention Parliament drafted a Declaration of Rights outlining grievances and limiting royal power. On February 13, 1689, William and Mary formally accepted the Declaration and were proclaimed joint sovereigns of England at Whitehall Palace. This bloodless transfer established parliamentary supremacy and Protestant succession as core principles.
Why it matters: The proclamation immediately resolved the succession crisis and enshrined the Bill of Rights as a foundational constitutional document that constrained monarchical authority. It influenced later British governance and served as a model for limited government in other nations, including the American colonies.