This map of London dating from 1688 captures a city on the cusp of dramatic change. Drawn during a period of profound realignment, the Glorious Revolution would see King James II overthrown by his son-in-law, William of Orange. The event had a significant impact on the city, shaping its political and religious landscape for centuries to come.
The Glorious Revolution was a bloodless coup that took place in England in 1688. King James II, a Catholic monarch in a Protestant country, had alienated many of his subjects with his policies. He had suspended Parliament, appointed Catholics to key positions and attempted to force the Church of England to accept Catholic practices.
In response, a group of Protestant nobles invited William of Orange, the Stadtholder of Holland and Zeeland, to invade England. William landed in Devon in November 1688 with an army of Dutch troops. He was met with widespread support from the English people and James’s army quickly deserted him. James fled to France, and William and his wife Mary, James’s Protestant daughter, were crowned joint monarchs in April 1689.
One of the most important legacies of the revolution was the Bill of Rights. The document limited the powers of the monarch and established the principle of parliamentary sovereignty. It also guaranteed certain fundamental rights, such as freedom of speech and assembly. In essence, it represented the shift from an absolute monarchy to the constitutional monarchy of the United Kingdom.
London became a centre of political debate and activism. Its printing presses churned out a vast array of pamphlets and newspapers. Londoners also played a key role in defending the new regime against Jacobite uprisings in the years that followed.
William of Orange, who became King William III of England after the revolution, was a complex and controversial figure. He was seen by many as a defender of Protestant liberties, but he was also criticised for his close ties to the Dutch Republic and for his willingness to use military force to achieve his goals.
The Glorious Revolution had a long lasting and permanent effect on London. The city became a more vibrant and cosmopolitan place, and it played a leading role in the development of modern democracy.
This historic 17th century map is a reminder of the great upheaval of the time. Composed by designer Wenceslaus Hollar, it was eventually published in the Atlas Van der Hagen-KW1049B11 in Amsterdam in 1690. It shows the city of London from the Tower of London in the east to Westminster Abbey in the west.
The River Thames runs through the centre of the city. It includes a double portrait of William III and Mary II, illustrations of, and a key that identify some of the city’s most important landmarks, such as St. Paul’s Cathedral, the Royal Exchange, Whitehall, Westminster, Covent Garden and the Tower of London.
Explore the full Town Plan of London here.
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