Heritage > Rulers
James II, 1685-1689
King of England and Scotland, who succeeded his brother Charles II in 1685. James was born in St James's Palace in 1633.
Several attempts were made to exclude him from the succession because he was a Catholic, especially following the alleged popish plot to murder King Charles.
James's pro-Catholic policies aroused intense opposition, and when he produced a Catholic heir (James Francis Edward , the Old Pretender) open revolt broke out.
He was deposed in 1688 and the glorious revolution put his Protestant son-in-law and daughter, William and Mary, on the throne. James's attempt to regain the throne was thwarted at the Battle of the Boyne,after which he spent the rest of his life in exile in France.
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