# Habeas Corpus Act (1679)

URL: https://english-history.com/timeline/1679-habeas-corpus-act
Categories: main-event

Parliament strengthened procedures protecting prisoners from indefinite detention without judicial review. Within the broader Stuarts & Revolutions period, the shared monarchy of England, Scotland and Ireland produced conflicts over religion, taxation and sovereignty that culminated in civil war, revolution and union. This event is placed at 1679 in the chronology so it can be read alongside the political, military, social and cultural changes around it. The act became a major landmark in the development of legal safeguards against arbitrary imprisonment.

## Why it matters
The act became a major landmark in the development of legal safeguards against arbitrary imprisonment.

Ruler at the time: [Charles II](https://english-history.com/rulers/charles-ii)

## Sources
- [Wikipedia topic lookup — Habeas Corpus Act](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:Search?search=Habeas+Corpus+Act&go=Go)
- [Encyclopaedia Britannica topic lookup — Habeas Corpus Act](https://www.britannica.com/search?query=Habeas+Corpus+Act)
- [Wikipedia — Timeline of British history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeline_of_British_history_%281600%E2%80%931699%29)
- [UK Parliament — Living Heritage](https://www.parliament.uk/about/living-heritage/)