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Treason Act 1702




The Act makes it Treason to ''"endeavour to deprive or hinder any person who shall be the next in succession to the crown ... from succeeding after the decease of her Majesty (whom God long preserve) to the imperial crown of this realm and the dominions and territories thereunto belonging".''

The Act was passed by the English Parliament but later extended to Scotland as well in 1708, following the Union of the two kingdoms in the previous year.

Originally a Capital Offence , the penalty was reduced in 1998 to Life Imprisonment .


IN FICTION

  • In the movie King Ralph , Ralph used the Treason Act of 1702 as his justification in ordering the arrest of Lord Graves on the grounds that Graves had interfered with Ralph's succession to the throne.



SEE ALSO