A few key figures in France and England regarding the struggle for political power between monarchs and the people.

1. 
Monarchs of France & Britain

2. Henry IV
 Edict of Nantes
 protected the protestant
minority

3. Henry IV
 creates a bureaucracy filled
with members of the
nobility
 controlled every aspect of
French life
 eliminated competition by
the nobility

4. Richelieu
 outlawed all non-state
armies
 eliminated challenges by
minority groups (nobility
and Huguenots)

5. Richelieu
 appointed nobles to high
court positions or high
military positions
 reduced the nobles
independence
 tied the nobility more
closely to the king

6. Louis XIV
 never called a meeting of
the Estates General
 expanded the bureaucracy
and appointed intendants
 consolidated royal power
as an absolute monarch,
just as Henry IV and Louis
XIII advisor Richelieu

7. Louis XIV
 (by the advice of Colbert)
expanded basic industries,
built luxury trades,
encouraged overseas
colonies and regulated their
trade
 increased the treasury to
support his wife’s
extravagant spending
sprees
Françoise d'Aubigné
Marquise de Maintenon

8. Louis XIV
 improved and resided in the
luxurious palace at Versailles
 Versailles becomes the
symbol for absolute
monarchs across Europe
and Louis’ XIV lifestyle the
model

9. James I
 declared divine right and
absolute rule
 dissolved Parliament,
collected taxes with
Parliament’s consent
 angers Parliament who will
eventually fight back for a
limited monarchy

10. James I
 commissions the writing of
the King James version of
the Bible
 has a lasting influence on
English language and
literature
 becomes a piece of
propaganda for the king
and his policies

11. Charles I
 signs Petition of Right
 on paper acknowledges
the power of Parliament as
controlling the treasury

12. Charles I
 dissolves Parliament
 when Parliament meets
again in 11 years, they hold
the Long Parliament
 civil war ensues
 Charles I is executed, this is
the first time that a
monarch is tried and
executed by the people
 absolute power will no
longer exist in England

13. Oliver Cromwell
 exiled Catholics
 believed in religious freedom
for other protestant groups
 tensions between
Northern Ireland and
England continue to this
day
 after 350 years, Jews were
welcomed back to England

14. Oliver Cromwell
 suppressed Levellers
 imposed strict Puritan rules
on society
 the population grew tired
of the Commonwealth’s
military rule and strict
Puritan ways
 after the death of
Cromwell, the new
Parliament invited Charles
II (son of Charles I) back to
England to rule

15. Charles II
 reopened theatres and taverns
 presided over a lively court,
much like Louis XIV
 restored the Church of England
as the official church but
tolerated other protestants
 accepted the Petition of Right
 confidence in the position of
king grew, though the people
remained cautious
 after his death, Charles II
brother, James II is inherits the
throne

16. James II
 flaunted his Catholic faith
and appointed Catholics to
high office
 Protestants feared a
restoration of the Roman
Catholic Church

17. James II
 suspended laws at whim
 William & Mary are invited
to rule, thus giving James II
an option, leave or be
executed (James II left for
France)

18. William & Mary
 overthrew James II
peacefully
 Glorious Revolution

19. William & Mary
 agreed to the English Bill of
Rights
 creates a limited
monarchy
 Parliament controls the
power of the purse
 monarch could no longer
interfere in Parliamentary
debate or suspend laws

20. William & Mary
 agreed to the English Bill of
Rights
 Catholics could not
become king or queen
 reinstated traditional
rights, such as trial by jury
 abolished excessive fines
and cruel and unusual
punishment
 affirmed the principle of
habeas corpus