Glorious Revolution of 1688,the bloodless revolution in England that overthrew King James II.During his short reign (1685–88),James disregarded Parliament and tried to restore Catholicism.His daughter Mary,a Protestant,was heir presumptive.Mary's husband was William of Orange,stadtholder,or governor,of the Netherlands.
When James' second wife gave birth to a son in June,1688,the nation suddenly faced the prospect of a long Catholic dynasty.Whig and Tory leaders invited William and Mary to claim the throne,and William invaded England in November.James' army deserted him,and he fled to France.William and Mary were crowned in 1689.Among the results of the Glorious Revolution was the enactment of the Bill of Rights,which limited the power of the monarchy and made Parliament supreme.