On This Day

Army of Protestant King William III of England defeats deposed Roman Catholic King James II in the Battle of the Boyne a

Army of Protestant King William III of England defeats deposed Roman Catholic King James II in the Battle of the Boyne at Oldbridge, Ireland

James II and VII (14 October 1633 O.S. – 16 September 1701) was King of England and Ireland as James II and King of Scotland as James VII from February 1685 until he was deposed in the 1688 Glorious Revolution. The last Catholic monarch of England, Scotland, and Ireland, his reign was marked by conflicts over religion, absolutism and the divine right of kings; his deposition ended a century of political and civil strife by confirming the primacy of the English Parliament over the Crown.

James was the second surviving son of Charles I of England and Henrietta Maria of France, and was created Duke of York at birth. At the age of 51, he succeeded to the throne with widespread support on the death of his elder brother, Charles II.

Historical Significance

James II and VII (14 October 1633 O.

Key People

William III

James II

Events Before

  1. Prince William of Orange, the future King William III of Britain, summons the Convention Parliament to discuss ruling jo

    Prince William of Orange, the future King William III of Britain, summons the Convention Parliament to discuss ruling jointly with his wife, Mary, the daughter of the exiled King James II

  2. Parliament of England adopts the Bill of Rights, establishing the rights of Parliament and placing limits on the Crown

    The constitution of the United Kingdom comprises the written and unwritten arrangements that establish the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland as a political body.

  3. Japanese poet Matsuo Bashō leaves Edo on his epic 150-day journey to Honshu Island in Japan, which he writes about in th

    Japanese poet Matsuo Bashō leaves Edo on his epic 150-day journey to Honshu Island in Japan, which he writes about in the literary masterpiece "Oku no Hosomichi" (The Narrow Road to the Deep North)

  4. Battle of Killiecrankie: Jacobite Scottish Highlanders under Viscount Dundee defeat royalist forces under General Hugh M

    Battle of Killiecrankie: Jacobite Scottish Highlanders under Viscount Dundee defeat royalist forces under General Hugh Mackay

  5. Lord Halifax becomes Speaker of the English House of Lords

    Lord Halifax becomes Speaker of the English House of Lords

Events After

  1. English King William III travels to The Hague

    English King William III travels to The Hague

  2. Thomas Neale granted English patent for American postal service

    Thomas Neale (1641–1699) was an English project-manager and politician who was also the first person to hold a position equivalent to postmaster-general of the North American colonies. Neale was a...

  3. French troops occupy Mons in the Spanish Netherlands after a siege during the Nine Years' War

    The Nine Years' War was a European great power conflict from 1688 to 1697 between France and the Grand Alliance.

  4. Pope Innocent XII succeeds Alexander VIII

    Pope Innocent XII (Latin: Innocentius XII; Italian: Innocenzo XII; 13 March 1615 – 27 September 1700), born Antonio Pignatelli, was head of the Catholic Church and ruler of the Papal States from 12...

  5. Antonio Pignatelli elected as Pope Innocentius XII

    Pope Innocent XII (Latin: Innocentius XII; Italian: Innocenzo XII; 13 March 1615 – 27 September 1700), born Antonio Pignatelli, was head of the Catholic Church and ruler of the Papal States from 12...

More from the 1690s

Frequently Asked Questions

What happened on July 1, 1690?
James II and VII (14 October 1633 O.S. – 16 September 1701) was King of England and Ireland as James II and King of Scotland as James VII from February 1685 until he was deposed in the 1688 Glorious Revolution. The last Catholic monarch of England, Scotland, and Ireland, his reign was marked by conflicts over religion, absolutism and the divine right of kings; his deposition ended a century of political and civil strife by confirming the primacy of the English Parliament over the Crown.
Why is Army of Protestant King William III of England defeats deposed Roman Catholic... significant?
James II and VII (14 October 1633 O.
Who was involved in Army of Protestant King William III of England defeats deposed Roman Catholic...?
Key figures include William III, James II.

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