Knowra James II of England James II of England James II ruled England, Scotland, and Ireland from 1685 until his deposition in 1688. His Catholicism and attempts to expand royal authority helped provoke the Glorious Revolution.
Glorious Revolution : The 1688–1689 overthrow of James II and settlement of the English crown under William III and Mary II. James’s attempts to secure Catholic rule prompted his opponents to invite William of Orange to intervene.
Charles II of England : King of England, Scotland, and Ireland from 1660 to 1685, and James II’s elder brother. James succeeded Charles, whose reign left unresolved conflicts over succession and Catholicism.
William III of England : Prince of Orange who became king of England, Scotland, and Ireland after James II’s deposition. William’s invasion displaced James and brought a Protestant monarch to the throne.
Jacobitism : A political movement seeking the restoration of the Stuart dynasty after its removal from the British throne. James’s deposition created the movement that supported his claim and those of his descendants.
Williamite War in Ireland : The 1689–1691 conflict in Ireland between supporters of James II and those of William III. It was the principal military campaign through which James tried to regain his crowns.
Revolution of 1688 : The 1688 invasion of England by William of Orange and the collapse of James II’s government. James fled after William’s forces advanced, making this the decisive military phase of his deposition.
Anne Hyde : The first wife of James, Duke of York, and mother of Mary II and Queen Anne. Her marriage to James produced the Protestant daughters whose succession later became politically decisive.
Mary II of England : Queen of England, Scotland, and Ireland from 1689 to 1694, ruling jointly with her husband William III. As James’s Protestant daughter, she accepted the crown after Parliament declared her father had abdicated.
Act of Settlement 1701 : An English statute that secured the Protestant succession through the House of Hanover after the death of Queen Anne. It extended the settlement that had excluded James and his Catholic heirs from the throne.
Test Act : A series of English laws requiring holders of public office to take Anglican communion and reject Catholic doctrines. These laws embodied the religious barriers James tried to suspend.
Show all 25