James II of England (1633–1701) was the King of England and Ireland (as James II) and King of Scotland (as James VII) from 1685 to 1688. His reign, though short, was marked by significant events and controversies related to religion and the power of the monarchy.

World History Edu presents a summary of his life and reign:

Early Life

James was born on October 14, 1633, to King Charles I of England and Queen Henrietta Maria. He was the younger brother of King Charles II.

Religious Background

Raised as a Protestant, James converted to Roman Catholicism in his adulthood, a decision that would have significant implications during his reign.

Exile and Return

During the English Civil War, James lived in exile in France. He returned to England after the Restoration of his brother, Charles II, to the throne in 1660.

Accession to the Throne

Upon the death of his childless brother Charles II in 1685, James ascended to the throne. His succession was initially uncontroversial.

Religious Controversies

As a Catholic monarch of a predominantly Protestant nation, James faced significant opposition. He sought to grant Catholics and other religious minorities the right to freedom of worship and to hold public office, which alarmed many in the predominantly Protestant English establishment.

Glorious Revolution

Concerns over James’s attempts to establish more autocratic rule and fears of a Catholic dynasty (especially after the birth of his son, James Francis Edward, in 1688) led to the Glorious Revolution. James’s Protestant daughter Mary and her husband, William of Orange (a stadtholder in the Netherlands), were invited to take the throne. Facing a massive defection of his Protestant officials and military officers to William and Mary, James fled England in 1688.

Later Life

After his deposition, James spent the rest of his life in exile, primarily in France, under the protection of his cousin, King Louis XIV.

Death

James II died on September 6, 1701, in Saint-Germain-en-Laye, France.