Born on 14th of October 1633
Died on 16th of September 1701
James II was born into the House of Stuart on the 14th October 1633 at St James Palace in London, his father was Charles I King Of England, and his mother was Henrietta Of France. James grew up in exile and after the Civil War he joined the French and Spanish Armies, when his father was executed during the Civil War James had fled, his elder brother tried to claim the crown but was unsuccessful, he had been proclaimed king Of Scotland and battled against Cromwell, although he suffered defeat, and he also fled the country. When Oliver Cromwell died Charles was finally declared King. James returned to England during his brothers reign, Unfortunately Charles died in 1685, he had no children or legitimate heirs, therefore James ascended to the throne. His Coronation took place at Westminster on 23rd April 1685.
He had secretly married Anne Hyde who was a commoner and this was frowned upon, James faced a rebellion at the Battle of Sedgemoor in 1685, however, the uprising was squashed, and the infamous Judge Jefferies served up severe punishments at the Bloody Assizes, punishments included whipping, imprisonment, execution, the rebellion had been led by Charles II's illegitimate son The Duke of Monmouth, he was beheaded because of his actions.
James married his second wife Mary of Modena and when their son was born, a Catholic, unrest bubbled through the ranks of the powerful Nobles, they contacted William of Orange who was a staunch Protestant he had married James' daughter Mary. William landed with an Army, James felt beaten and fled to the Continent. James' departure angered Parliament, who declared that he had abdicated in 1688, Scotland later followed and declared that James had forfeited the Scottish Crown, he was succeeded by William And Mary. However, James fought for his Scottish crown at the Battle of Boyne but he returned to France defeated. He died whilst still in France, in 1701, he was later buried in Saint-Germain. He was the last ever Catholic King to reign England.
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