Edward II succeeded to the throne upon his father’s death in 1307. His reign was one of constant struggle with the barons. In this struggle, Edward was defeated, and thrown into prison. The question now became what to do with him. The simplest solution was to have Edward put to death. The problem was that the execution of Edward II would necessitate a trial. While there was general agreement that Edward had not paid proper attention to the needs of his subjects, his actions were not considered treas on. The situation was further complicated by the fact that legal power and the ability to set royal policy still rested with Edward even though he was in jail!
In light of these circumstances, parliament chose to act as an authority above the king. Representatives were summoned to the House of Commons, and the debate began.
Eventually, parliament agreed to remove Edward from power. However, Edward was not deposed. Rather, parliament’s decision was presented to Edward, who was asked to accept it. His abdication was announced on January 24, 1327, and it heralded the increasing power and importance of parliament in governing England.