James II – The King Who Went Too Far

James II became king in 1685 during a time when England desperately wanted stability after decades of conflict. Although he was Catholic, most people accepted him to avoid another civil war. However, his actions soon created fear: he ignored laws, appointed Catholics to powerful positions, expanded the standing army, and claimed the authority to suspend legislation without Parliament’s approval. The crisis deepened when he prosecuted bishops who opposed him and, most importantly, when a Catholic heir was born, suggesting a permanent Catholic absolutist monarchy. English leaders then invited William of Orange to intervene. William landed in 1688, and James lost support and fled the country. Parliament declared that James had effectively abdicated and offered the crown to William and Mary under strict limits, leading to the Bill of Rights (1689). The event, known as the Glorious Revolution, transformed England into a constitutional monarchy where the king ruled with Parliament, not above it.