William and Mary
Age of Absolutism Project
Biography
- William of Orange was born in November 14,1650, and died in March 8, 1702.
- Mary Stuart II was born in April 30, 1662, and died in December 28, 1694.
Map of England During Their Reign
Achievements
Under the reign of William and Mary, the crown achieved many things including over throwing James II in a bloodless revolution (Glorious Revolution), establishing the English Bill of Rights, and establishing a limited monarchy instead of an absolute monarchy.
Governing Style
William and Mary's governing style was more gave parliament more power than the monarchs. In turn, creating a constitutional monarchy instead of an absolute monarchy. This can be seen in the English Bill of Rights where the monarchy has to give the House of Commons the "power of the purse", and the English Bill of Rights also did not allow the monarchy to interfere in parliamentary debates. There governing style also took power away from Catholics. First, the English Bill of Rights made it so no Catholic could become the monarch. Second, the Toleration acts gave the Catholics no religious freedom at all. Overall, William and Mary's governing style took power away from the monarchy and took power away from the Catholics.
An engraving of the William and Mary that was made is 1703
William of Orange III
A painting of him by Sir Godfrey Kneller.
Mary Stuart II
A painting by Jan Verkolje created in 1685.
William and Mary
A painting of them on the ceiling of The Painted Hall of the Greenwich Hospital.