JAMES II, STUART
King of England, 1685-1688
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James converted to Catholicism in 1669. Despite his conversion, James II (reigned 1685-88) succeeded to the throne peacefully at the age of 51. His position was a strong one - there were standing armies of nearly 20,000 men in his kingdoms and he had a revenue of around £2 million. Within days of his succession, James announced the summoning of Parliament in May but he sounded a warning note: 'the best way to engage me to meet you often is always to use me well'. A rebellion led by Charles's illegitimate son, the Duke of Monmouth, was easily crushed after the battle of Sedgemoor in 1685, and savage punishments were imposed by the infamous Lord Chief Justice, Judge Jeffreys, at the 'Bloody Assizes'.
James's reaction to the Monmouth rebellion was to plan the increase of the standing army and the appointment of loyal and experienced Roman Catholic officers. This, together with James's attempts to give civic equality to Roman Catholic and Protestant dissenters, led to conflict with Parliament. They believed James was showing favouritism [English spelling!] towards Roman Catholics. Fear of Catholicism was widespread in all of Europe since Louis XIV had just revoked the Edict of Nantes which gave protection to French Protestants. The possibility of a standing army led by Roman Catholic officers produced protest in Parliament. As a result, James dismissed Parliament in 1685 and ruled without it.
James attempted to promote the Roman Catholic cause by dismissing judges and Lord Lieutenants who refused to support the withdrawal of laws penalising religious dissidents and by appointing Catholics to important academic posts and to senior military and political positions. Within three years, the majority of James's subjects had been alienated.
In 1687 James issued the Declaration of Indulgence aiming at religious toleration; seven bishops who asked James to reconsider were charged with seditious libel, but later acquitted to popular Anglican acclaim. When his second (Roman Catholic) wife, Mary of Modena, gave birth on 10 June 1688 to a son [James Edward Stuart, later known as the 'Old Pretender' and father of Charles Edward Stuart, 'Bonnie Prince Charlie'), it seemed that a Roman Catholic dynasty would be established. [I'm sure some of you have read the wonderfully romantic Sir Walter Scott stories about the Bonnie Prince; if not, grab a book and daydream for a while . . .]
William of Orange, Protestant husband of James's elder daughter, Mary (by James's first and Protestant wife, Anne Hyde), was therefore welcomed when he invaded on 5 November 1688. The Army and the Navy (disaffected despite James's investment in them) deserted to William, and James abdicated the throne - - obviously not a great warrior! Actually James fled, threw the Great Seal of England into the Thames as he left town and was later captured by some fishermen. When he was returned to London, William of Orange arranged for him to escape a second time to avoid the turmoil of a trial. James left for France to plot his return to the throne - - unsuccessfully. James's only real attempt to regain the throne [by taking a French army to Ireland] failed - he was defeated at the Battle of the Boyne in 1690.
James spent the rest of his life in exile in France, dying there in 1701.