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'''James II''' [1633-1701] was the second son of [[Charles I]] and succeeded [[Charles II]] to the throne of [[England]]. He ruled from 1685 until 1688 during the time of the Catholic-Anglican conflict, and many Protestants were unhappy having a Catholic rule their country. James II was forced to flee to France. [[Mary II]] (the Protestant daughter of James II) became joint ruler with her husband William of Orange after James II escaped to France. James II died in exile in 1701.
'''James II''' [1633-1701] was the second son of [[Charles I]] and succeeded [[Charles II]] to the throne of [[England]]. He ruled from 1685 until 1688 during the time of the Catholic-Anglican conflict, and many Protestants were unhappy having a Catholic rule their country. James 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. He tried to form a sort of coalition 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. This was hailed at the time, and ever since, as the "[[Glorious Revolution]]."
James II escaped to France, where Louis XIV protected him and helped him foment a rebellion in Britain that would put James on the throne. James II died in exile in 1701.
==See also==
* [[English Civil War]]
* [[Glorious Revolution]]
* [[William III]]
==Further reading==
{{Nb_english_monarchs}}
{{Nb_english_monarchs}}