Monmouth’s Revolt: How a Protestant Pretender Challenged James II

In 1685 the West Country rose under the banner of James Scott, Earl of Monmouth, as a Protestant challenger to the Catholic king. The episode explores how the rebellion was sparked by fears over succession and religion, what happened on the battlefield at Sedgemoor, and how the aftermath—Bloody Assizes and executions—set the stage for later constitutional change. We also look at surviving evidence, contemporary reactions, and how later mythologised narratives differ from the historical record. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices