Fact Book: The Glorious Revolution

The 1745 Jacobite rising really began in 1688 when King James II (also called James VII in Scotland) lost his crown and was replaced by his own daughter and his Dutch nephew! This was called the Glorious Revolution. How did this happen?

• James was not very popular. He believed in something called Divine Right. This means that he thought God had made him king and that he didn't have to listen to anyone!
• James followed a different religion to most of his people. He became a Roman Catholic while his people stayed Protestant. The people feared he'd make them all Roman Catholic too! This was a big deal at this time. People were scared of Roman Catholics taking over!
• James' daughter Mary was still a Protestant. She had married her Dutch cousin William, who was also James' nephew! William was also a Protestant
• Important people in government asked Mary and William to come to England with William's army and get rid of James! The people were happier with a Protestant royal family
• In 1688 William and Mary became rulers of England and Scotland

King James did have his friends though. They didn't like the idea of a foreign king and wanted James to come back. Because in Latin James' name is Jacobus, his friends became known as Jacobites.