Reclaiming England's European Past
Between 10 and 11 o'clock on the night of December 17th 1688, the Dutch Guards under Count von Solms replaced the Coldstream Guards under Lord Craven at Whitehall, Somerset House and St. James’s. The most momentous Changing of the Guard in English history was proof that William of Orange was master of England – and that England had been claimed for Europe. For the 'Glorious Revolution' was a European enterprise, which would not have succeeded without William's European army of Dutch, English, Scottish, German, Danish and Huguenot troops (and the German and Swedish troops hired to guard the Netherlands while he was in England). His goal was European: to use the resources of England to save 'the liberty of Europe' and check the territorial expansion of France.
To continue reading this article you need to purchase a subscription, available from only £5.
Start my trial subscription now
If you have already purchased access, or are a print & archive subscriber, please ensure you are logged in.
Please email digital@historytoday.com if you have any problems.
