James II (Great Britain). Article #22. Vol 6, pg 482.
The Stuarts came to power in England when James I took the throne in 1603. He and son Charles I were big on the idea that the king had all the power, parliament not so much. This caught up with them in 1649. Charles was beheaded and England became a republic.
The English people missed having a king, inviting Charles’ son back to England in 1660. Charles II ruled until his death in 1685.
Enter James II, younger brother of Charles II. He was also big on the Divine Right of Kings. But even worse, he converted to Catholicism.
James’ daughter and only heir was Protestant, so this might have worked out. But in 1688, James had a son, baptizing him as a Catholic.
This was the last straw for the Catholic-hating English, so they asked James to hit the road. He had ruled for only three years.
“James II (Great Britain).” Encyclopedia Britannica. 15th ed. 2010. Vol 6, pg 482.
