DYNASTICAL QUESTION IN ENGLAND AT THE EDGE OF XVII-XVIII CENTURIES
The article deals with the complicated dynastical situation, which developed in England at the edge of XVII-XVIII centuries as the result of events, known in history as the Glorious Revolution of 1688-1689. The author investigates circumstances of the foundation of preconditions of problems in succession during the reign of Charles II, explain the role of protestant religion in successor’s choice, and also demonstrates the process of settlement of William of Orange as legitimate king and role of propaganda in this activity. Examination of the Act of Settlement of 1701, which became the key point of final solution of dynastic question, also played vital role in author’s research. The crucial point of the article is covering the results of this Act, among them are influence of the Act on the situation in Scotland and following six years later union between two kingdoms. The article also analyses Jacobite movement, the movement of supporters of fallen in the Glorious Revolution King James II and his successors. International factors, influenced on the activity of Jacobite movement and stability of the dynastic policy of the kingdom in its critical period also are examined. The article resumes that despite serious jacobite activity and internal political intrigues, a course for protestant succession was firm and finally won, what is seen in the victory of representative of Hanoverian dynasty George I, becoming the king.