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(Stuart Age - Absolutism and the English Revolion)
The Early Stuarts were politically undiplomatic and abitrary, though with personal dignity and courage, the Stuarts were very unpopular through their despotic and Catholic tendencies. Resistance to Stuart despotism led to the revival of Parliamentarism.
James I (son of Mary Stuart) was disliked by the extreme Protestants and by the Roman Catholics. The latter plottet to blow up Parliament and the King and seize power, but failed.
Guy Fawkes, who wa to setfire to gun powder stored in a cellar underneath Parliament, was captured and executed together with the other conspirators. Since that time the 5th November has been celebrated as "Guy Fawkes Day".
Nowadays the Queen (or King) reigns but does not rule, but both James I and his son
Charles I (1625) regarded themselves as "Kings of Divine Rights" and wanted to rule absolu-
tely. Charles dissolved Parliament and tried to rule in an absolutistic maner.
"Long Parliament", elected in the year 1642, contained only the King´s opponents. Under the leadership of John Pym, Hampden and Cromwell, Parliament soon became stronger than the King, excluded bishops, abolished episopacy and introduced Constitutional Reforms:
* no dissolution of Parliament without ist own consent
* Parliament meets every three years even if it isn´t summoned by the King
* Abolition of Star Chamber and Court of High Commission
Charles conflict with Parliament developed into a civil war. The parlamentary troops, supported by the Puritans (Roundheads) were organized by Olver Cromwell. After years of fighting, the King´s "Cavaliers" were defeated and Charles was executed in 1649.
Oliver Cromwell established a Puritan "Commonwealth", called himself "Lord Protector" and dissolved Parliament (1649). During the last five years of his rule Cromwell exercised a military dictatorship, though he declined to accept an offer of the crown and re-established a new House of Lords consisting of peers nominated by himself.
Oliver Cromwell forbade all old customs, closed all theatres, moreover it was the time of religious intolerance, even games and fun on Sundays were forbidden!
Oliver Cromwell died in 1658, his son Richard, who followed him, eas not able to cope with the army and Parliament and abdicated after one year.
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