The Gunpowder Plot of 1605 involved a desperate but failed attempt by a group of provincial English Catholic extremists to kill King James I of England, his family, and most of the Protestant aristocracy in one fell swoop by blowing up the Houses of Parliament during the State Opening. It represented yet another in a series of foiled attempts on the life of the King; the Main Plot and the Bye Plot of 1603 being earlier examples.
The event is commemorated every year on Guy Fawkes night, the 5th of November.
The conspirators had become disillusioned in James's refusal to give equal rights to Catholics. The plot was intended to initiate a rebellion during which, they hoped, James's daughter (Elizabeth of Bohemia) could be installed as a Protestant head of state. The plot miscarried on November 5, hours before it was to have been enacted.
The plot was masterminded by Robert Catesby, and executed by Guido (Guy) Fawkes the explosives expert. The known other plotters included Thomas Wintour, Robert Wintour, Christopher Wright, Thomas Percy, John Grant, Ambrose Rokewood, Robert Keyes, Sir Everard Digby, Francis Tresham and Catesby's servant, Thomas Bates.
On 5 November each year, Britons celebrate the failure of the plot on what is known as Bonfire Night (also known as Fireworks night or Guy Fawkes' night). Some believe the proximity of this event and the pre-Christian festival of Samhain Eve are notable.