James II

James II was king of England and Ireland from 1685 to 1688. In Scotland, he was known as James VII. He was born in 1633 and was the younger brother of Charles II. James became king after Charles II died. His reign was short and ended when he lost the throne during a political event called the Glorious Revolution.

Before becoming king, James spent many years involved in military and political life. During the English Civil War, he supported his father, Charles I. After the defeat of the royal side, James lived in exile for a time. Exile means living outside one’s own country. When the monarchy was restored in 1660, James returned to England and was given important positions by his brother Charles II.

James II became king in 1685. One important fact about his reign was his religion. James was a Roman Catholic at a time when most people in England were Protestant. Religion played a major role in politics during this period. James supported religious freedom for Catholics and Protestants, but many people feared that he wanted to increase royal power and change the Church of England.

James tried to rule with strong authority. He used his power to appoint officials and control the army. Parliament became concerned about these actions. Tension increased when James had a son in 1688. This meant a Catholic heir would follow him. Many political leaders worried that a Catholic royal line would continue.

In 1688, several English leaders invited William of Orange, the husband of James’s daughter Mary, to come to England with an army. William was a Protestant ruler from the Netherlands. James lost support and fled the country. Because James left England, Parliament declared that he had given up the throne. This event is called the Glorious Revolution because it involved little fighting in England.

After James II was removed, William and Mary became joint rulers as William III and Mary II. James lived the rest of his life in exile, mainly in France. He died in 1701. His removal from power changed how England was governed, with Parliament gaining greater authority over the monarch.