European History?

Looking at the situation somewhat from the reverse, I think a primary reason the English Parliament gained power and the French monarchy strengthened its own had to do with the relationship between the monarch and religion. As has been said before, France was a predominantly Catholic nation ruled by a conspicuously Catholic sovereign. Henry IV converted from Protestantism to Catholicism before he was enthroned in order to make himself acceptable to the people. His son Louis XIII and grandson Louis XIV were brought up as Catholics, supported in their authority by strong support from (and significant domination of) the Church within France. In England, James I was brought in from Scotland, the son of the Catholic Mary, Queen of Scots, who was beheaded for treason, to succeed Elizabeth I, who had beheaded her. He publicly espoused the Church of England, which was a requirement for being king, but many of the people of England who had become staunch Anglicans were uncertain of his true feelings. Although he wished to exercise full authority as king, he could only find funds by appealing to Parliament, so it did ert itself. His son, Charles I, was deposed and executed largely for flouting the authority of Parliament. Charles II, when restored to power, was aware of the power Parliament exercised and the dangers of displeasing it. When he died without legitimate heir, his brother, James II, came to the throne with a Catholic second wife and the prospect of future Catholic heirs. He was deposed and replaced by his daughter and his son in law, Mary II and William III, who exercised significant power but still gave respect to Parliamentary authority. From even before the execution of Charles I, absolute power was impractical; After the Glorious Revolution which deposed James II, it was impossible.