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James II, 1633 - 1701
JAMES II
1633 - 1701


James was the Duke of York 1634 until 1685. After that, he was king of Great Britain from 1685 - 1688. He was a member of the Stuart family.

James was a no nonsense man, however, always ready to chase the occasional skirt.


JAMES'S FAMILY
James's father was Charles I. His mother was Henrietta Maria. James was the second surviving son. James had another brother, Charles II.

In 1660, James married Anne Hyde, daughter of the earl of Clarendon.

James had two daughters: Mary II and Anne. In 1677, Mary married William III (William of Orange.)

When James's first wife, Anne, died, he married Mary of Modena in 1673.
 

ENGLISH CIVIL WARS
James lived in Oxford from 1642 until 1646, when the city surrendered. Parliament then confined him to St James's Palace. In April 1648, James escaped to the Netherlands. In 1649, he met up with his mom in France. He then joined, get ready, the French army of all clubs. That was April 1652. He fought as a good Frenchman did under a famous general, the Vicomte de Turenne.

More about the English Civil Wars here.


CHARLES II

1656 was a head scratcher for James. His brother Charles II allied with Spain against France. Now what to do. He had to change sides and join the Spanish army, which he did. He was made commander in the Spanish army and fought at the Battle of the Dunes in 1658.

Events developed and brother Charles was made new king of England. Under Charles's reign, James got a job in the navy. In this capacity, James became very interested in the matters of the colonies. James organized to get New Amsterdam from the Dutch in 1664. In honor of James, the city was re-named New York.


THE DUTCH WARS

James was an active navy man in the Second (1665 - 1667) and Third (1672 - 1674) Anglo-Dutch War.


THE GLORIOUS REVOLUTION 1688 - 1689

Before the Glorious Revolution, James was king. After the revolution, James was dethroned. In his place, William III and Mary II (his daughter) ruled.

James fought William in the Jacobite War and here is the map

Campaign in the North-East of Ireland and Battle of the Boyne, 1690
Ireland 1689 - 1691 Jacobite War
Click map to enlarge

 

 


 


 


 

 

 


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