James II

By David Womersley

Subjects: Biography, Great britain, history, Great britain, kings and rulers, Kings and rulers, Great britain, biography, James ii, king of england, 1633-1701, History

Description: The short, action-packed reign of James II (1685-88) is generally seen as one of the most catastrophic in British history. James managed, despite having access to tremendous reserves of good will and deference, to so alienate his supporters that he had to flee for his life. And yet, most of that life was spent not as king but first as heir to Charles II, as Duke of York (after whom New York is named) and then in the last part of his life as the first Jacobite 'Pretender', starting a problem that would haunt Britain's rulers for generations. - Publisher.