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'''James II''' [1633-1701] was James II as king of England and Ireland and James VII as king of Scotland, 1685-1688. A member of the Stuart dynasty, he was the second son of King [[Charles I]] and became Duke of York<ref>New York is named after him.</ref>. He succeeded his late brother [[Charles II]] to the throne.  He antagonized all the leading sectors of Britain by his plans to make Britain a Roman Catholic nation and form an alliance with the France of King [[Louis XIV]].  The leaders called on William of Orange, the ruler of the Netherlands to overthrow James, which happened in 1688. James went into exile in France and schemed to organize his supporters (called "Jacobites") to invade Britain and restore him to the throne. He failed.

'''James II''' [1633-1701] was James II as king of England and Ireland and James VII as king of Scotland, 1685-1688. A member of the Stuart dynasty, he was the second son of King [[Charles I]] and became Duke of York.<ref>New York is named after him.</ref> He succeeded his late brother [[Charles II]] to the throne.  He antagonized all the leading sectors of Britain by his plans to make Britain a Roman Catholic nation and form an alliance with the France of King [[Louis XIV]].  The leaders called on William of Orange, the ruler of the Netherlands to overthrow James, which happened in 1688. James went into exile in France and schemed to organize his supporters (called "Jacobites") to invade Britain and restore him to the throne. He failed.

[[File:Jamesii.jpg|thumb|200px]]

[[File:Jamesii.jpg|thumb|200px]]

==Reign==

==Reign==

The Duke of Monmouth (1649-85) was very popular illegitimate son of Charles II of England and third in line for the throne. Monmouth was banished to the Netherlands after the revelation of a plot by Whig politicians to kill King Charles II and his brother, the Catholic Duke of York, in 1683. After Charles's death, Monmouth staged an uprising against James II, but he was defeated and executed.   

The Duke of Monmouth (1649–85) was very popular illegitimate son of Charles II of England and third in line for the throne. Monmouth was banished to the Netherlands after the revelation of a plot by Whig politicians to kill King Charles II and his brother, the Catholic Duke of York, in 1683. After Charles's death, Monmouth staged an uprising against James II, but he was defeated and executed.   

James came to the throne with a full treasury and no economic crises.  His revenues grew thanks to the growth of a centrally controlled, salaried royal bureaucracy, which increased the efficiency of tax collection in the 1680s. James was by far the most solvent of the Stuart monarchs of the seventeenth century.  The new money allowed James to greatly increase the standing army, from 8500 men to about 40,000.  He ordered local innkeepers to house and feed soldiers or lose their licenses<ref>A grievance later echoed in the Third Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.</ref>. The creation of an independent legal system for the army, combined with the garrisoning of troops across the country, alarmed men who feared he planned to impose arbitrary rule by force. The king's systematic promotion of Catholic to higher ranks was another worrisome sign, and alienated him from the traditional officer corps. When Parliament protested, he prorogued (disbanded) Parliament in November 1685.When William of Orange invaded in 1688, the army refused to defend the king.

James came to the throne with a full treasury and no economic crises.  His revenues grew thanks to the growth of a centrally controlled, salaried royal bureaucracy, which increased the efficiency of tax collection in the 1680s. James was by far the most solvent of the Stuart monarchs of the seventeenth century.  The new money allowed James to greatly increase the standing army, from 8500 men to about 40,000.  He ordered local innkeepers to house and feed soldiers or lose their licenses.<ref>A grievance later echoed in the Third Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.</ref>  The creation of an independent legal system for the army, combined with the garrisoning of troops across the country, alarmed men who feared he planned to impose arbitrary rule by force. The king's systematic promotion of Catholic to higher ranks was another worrisome sign, and alienated him from the traditional officer corps. When Parliament protested, he prorogued (disbanded) Parliament in November 1685.When William of Orange invaded in 1688, the army refused to defend the king.

==Royal despotism?==

==Royal despotism?==

James realized that local elites were unfriendly, so he tried to strip away their political power. He tried to seize control of county governments by appointing friends who would his religious policies. In many counties, James replaced between 75% and 90% of the justices of the peace (JP) who controlled local affairs. James sent parliament home and had plans to control the next Parliament; he took royal control of many cities by canceling their charters.  The most famous case came when he revoked the charter of the City of London and put his men in the top local offices.  He tried to set up new courts to handle clergy of the Church of England, but the bishops fought him to a standstill. James tried to force Catholic officials on Oxford University.  At Cambridge University, Professor [[Isaac Newton]] led the resistance.  James issued many dispensations to release Catholic supporters from legal disabilities.

James realized that local elites were unfriendly, so he tried to strip away their political power. He tried to seize control of county governments by appointing friends who would his religious policies. In many counties, James replaced between 75% and 90% of the justices of the peace (JP) who controlled local affairs. James sent parliament home and had plans to control the next Parliament; he took royal control of many cities by canceling their charters.  The most famous case came when he revoked the charter of the City of London and put his men in the top local offices.  He tried to set up new courts to handle clergy of the Church of England, but the bishops fought him to a standstill. James tried to force Catholic officials on Oxford University.  At Cambridge University, Professor [[Isaac Newton]] led the resistance.  James issued many dispensations to release Catholic supporters from legal disabilities.

Under James, the open pursuit of his Catholic programme proved unacceptable to Britain's ruling classes, confirmed latent fears of a design to establish a royal despotism. James' blunder was to underestimate the real vulnerability of the monarchy that his brother Charles II had restored in 1660. For all its outward strength and independence, it rested upon the tacit acceptance and co-operation of the nation's local elites. Early modern British government was in practice a collaborative affair, and this made the James' goal of an absolutist system impossible in practical terms.  James may have wanted to emulate Louis XIV but it was quite impossible in Britain.<ref> See Goodlad (2007)</ref>

Under James, the open pursuit of his Catholic programme proved unacceptable to Britain's ruling classes, confirmed latent fears of a design to establish a royal despotism. James' blunder was to underestimate the real vulnerability of the monarchy that his brother Charles II had restored in 1660. For all its outward strength and independence, it rested upon the tacit acceptance and co-operation of the nation's local elites. Early modern British government was in practice a collaborative affair, and this made the James' goal of an absolutist system impossible in practical terms.  James may have wanted to emulate Louis XIV but it was quite impossible in Britain.<ref>See Goodlad (2007)</ref>

== Catholic issue==

== Catholic issue==

James was an active Catholic who surrounded himself with Catholic advisors and dreamed of restoring Catholicism as the state religion, to the dismay of the Anglicans in the Church of England, as well as the Dissenters (other Protestants).  He greatly underestimated the depth of anti-Catholic hatreds and fears in Britain.  James had a long-term goal: he believed that by relaxing the harsh rules against Catholics that Britain would eventually become a Catholic Country--vastly underestimating the strength of anti-Catholicism among all ranks of the British people.  The Anglican bishops opposed his plans so he tried to form an alliance with the Protestant Dissenters against the Church of England, but the Dissenters realized his goal was to build up Catholicism. With the revocation of the [[Edict of Nantes]] by French King [[Louis XIV]] in 1784, a wave of persecuted Huguenots arrived in Britain, telling more horror stories about Catholic rule.   

James was an active Catholic who surrounded himself with Catholic advisors and dreamed of restoring Catholicism as the state religion, to the dismay of the Anglicans in the Church of England, as well as the Dissenters (other Protestants).  He greatly underestimated the depth of anti-Catholic hatreds and fears in Britain.  James had a long-term goal: he believed that by relaxing the harsh rules against Catholics that Britain would eventually become a Catholic Country—vastly underestimating the strength of anti-Catholicism among all ranks of the British people.  The Anglican bishops opposed his plans so he tried to form an alliance with the Protestant Dissenters against the Church of England, but the Dissenters realized his goal was to build up Catholicism. With the revocation of the [[Edict of Nantes]] by French King [[Louis XIV]] in 1784, a wave of persecuted Huguenots arrived in Britain, telling more horror stories about Catholic rule.   

Most serious of all, James tried to emulate and form an alliance with the powerful Catholic king of France, Louis XIV.  This brought [[William III|William of Orange]] into the picture, the ruler of the Netherlands. William was trying to organize a European coalition against France, and needed Britain to join.  British leaders in 1688 told William they were through with James and asked him to invade and take the throne. He did so, James fled, and William (now called William III) became king jointly with his wife [[Mary II]]. As the Protestant daughter of James II, Mary had a good claim to the throne.

Most serious of all, James tried to emulate and form an alliance with the powerful Catholic king of France, Louis XIV.  This brought [[William III|William of Orange]] into the picture, the ruler of the Netherlands. William was trying to organize a European coalition against France, and needed Britain to join.  British leaders in 1688 told William they were through with James and asked him to invade and take the throne. He did so, James fled, and William (now called William III) became king jointly with his wife [[Mary II]]. As the Protestant daughter of James II, Mary had a good claim to the throne.

==Glorious Revolution==

==Glorious Revolution==

The overthrow of James was hailed at the time, and ever since, as the "[[Glorious Revolution]]."  [[ Edmund Burke]] set the tone for over two centuries of historiographical analysis when he proclaimed that:

The overthrow of James was hailed at the time, and ever since, as the "[[Glorious Revolution]]."  [[Edmund Burke]] set the tone for over two centuries of historiographical analysis when he proclaimed that:

:The Revolution was made to preserve our ancient indisputable laws and liberties, and that ancient constitution of government which is our only security for law and liberty.

:The Revolution was made to preserve our ancient indisputable laws and liberties, and that ancient constitution of government which is our only security for law and liberty.

* Speck, W.A. ''James II'' (2002), solid scholarly biography; argues James did not seek to impose Catholicism, but his ambitions went far beyond equal treatment for Catholics.

* Speck, W.A. ''James II'' (2002), solid scholarly biography; argues James did not seek to impose Catholicism, but his ambitions went far beyond equal treatment for Catholics.

* Speck, W.A. "James II and VII (1633–1701)", ''Oxford Dictionary of National Biography,''(2004), online at academic libraries  

* Speck, W.A. "James II and VII (1633–1701)", ''Oxford Dictionary of National Biography,''(2004), online at academic libraries  

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====References====

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{{Nb_english_monarchs}}

{{Nb_english_monarchs}}

[[category:Scottish Monarchs]]

[[Category:Scottish Monarchs]]

[[Category:British History]]

[[Category:British History]]

[[category:English Civil War]]

[[Category:English Civil War]]