The Act of Settlement 1701 was a law passed by the Parliament of England to ensure a Protestant succession to the throne. It was created in response to concerns about the potential for a Catholic monarch, particularly following the reign of James II, who was deposed in the Glorious Revolution. The Act established that only descendants of Princess Sophia of Hanover, a Protestant, could inherit the English crown. Additionally, the Act outlined specific conditions for the monarchy, including the requirement that the monarch must be a Protestant and must not marry a Catholic. This legislation aimed to secure the Protestant faith in England and prevent any future conflicts over the succession of the throne.