Jacobitism

This article is not about the Jacobite Orthodox Church, nor is it about Jacobinism or the earlier Jacobean period.

Political background

The second half of the 17th century was a time of political and religious turmoil in the British Isles. The Protestant Commonwealth ended with the Restoration of Charles II who renewed attempts to impose Episcopalian Anglican worship on Scotland, provoking rebellions by Covenanters such as the Cameronians who were repressed in the "Killing Times" in attempts to stamp out Presbyterianism.

Related Topics:
17th century - Commonwealth - Charles II - Episcopalian - Covenanter - Cameronians - Killing Times - Presbyterian

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He was succeeded in 1685 by his Roman Catholic brother, James II and VII, who continued the family disdain for democracy, their motto being a Deo rex, a rege lex (the king comes from God, the law comes from the king), which led to conflict with Parliament.

Related Topics:
1685 - Roman Catholic - James II and VII

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In Ireland James' viceroy, Richard Talbot, 1st Earl of Tyrconnell, was the first Catholic viceroy since the Reformation and acted to reduce Protestant ascendancy and to have strong points in Ireland controlled by garrisons loyal to the cause of absolutism.

Related Topics:
Ireland - Richard Talbot, 1st Earl of Tyrconnell - Reformation

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In England and Scotland James attempted to impose religious toleration, which helped the Catholic minority but offended others. William of Orange, building alliances against France, lobbied Whigs to have James replaced by William's wife Mary who was James' daughter and next in line to the throne, but they were reluctant to rush a succession expected to happen in due course. Then in 1688 James' second wife had a boy, bringing the prospect of a Catholic dynasty, and the "Immortal Seven" invited William and Mary to depose James. In November William arrived in England and James fled to France: in February 1689 the Glorious Revolution formally changed England's monarch, but many Catholics, Episcopalians and Tory royalists convinced that Parliament had no right to define the succession still supported James.

Related Topics:
William of Orange - Alliances - Whig - Mary - 1688 - Immortal Seven - 1689 - Glorious Revolution - Tory

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Scotland was slow to accept William, who summoned a Convention of the Estates which met on 14 March 1689 in Edinburgh and considered a conciliatory letter from William and a haughty one from James. Forces of Cameronians as well as Clan Campbell highlanders led by the Earl of Argyll had come to bolster William's support. On James' side cavalry led by John Graham of Claverhouse, Viscount Dundee attended at the start but withdrew four days later when support for William became evident. The convention set out its terms and William and Mary were proclaimed at Edinburgh on April 11 1689, then had their coronation in London in May.

Related Topics:
14 March - 1689 - Edinburgh - Cameronians - Clan Campbell - Earl of Argyll - John Graham of Claverhouse, Viscount Dundee - April 11

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