Absolutist England

I'm sure that this has been asked before (so forgive me): with a POD of 1603 or after, what would have been necessary for the Stuarts to establish a more absolutist rule in England? Specifically, how can the Civil War be avoided and the Crown "win" in its struggle against Parliament, as was occurring in many other seventeenth century monarchies?
 
According to one of the essays in Virtual History, Charles got rather close to winning the Bishops' War in Scotland without realizing it. That might do it, but on the other hand it could have happened anyway. England's legal system and more centralized aristocracy are also factors inhibiting its development in the typical European way.
 
I think Henry, the Prince of Wales and James's first son, surviving might do it. He was known as a committed Protestant, so he would avoid the suspicions Charles I faced about his being a possible crypto-Catholic. *Henry IX might face some opposition in Parliament about his absolutist pretensions, but his Protestant credentials should be strong enough to co-opt many of the Puritans who opposed Charles, so while he'd still face Parliamentary opposition, it would remain more at the level of what James faced instead of getting out of hand and leading to civil war like under Charles.

This has big butterflies on the continent too because of alternate royal marriages. It might prevent the 30 Years' War.
 
The Stuarts seemed to lack the glamour that their predisessor the Tudors had, so the people realised that the Stuarts were absolutist in a way that would never had occured 50 years previously.

I would agree with Desmond that removing the Catholic taint would be a good first step, but have a Stuart "spin doctor" in Jame's court would be even better.
 
You've also got the problem that England/Britain is a major mercantile power, and the power of the middle class is growing. That economic power WILL be reflected politically, the only real question is how and when. Unless, of course, you want to destroy the entire middle class and impoverish the whole country. So, no, you aren't going to get or keep an Absolutist England, unless it's a horribly poor place and/or conquered by e.g. Spain.

Not quite ASB, but requires HUGE changes.
 
Top