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You are here: UK History > Royal History > Jacobites
Jacobitism was a movement that supported the restoration of the House of Stuart to the British Throne. The name Jacobite comes from Jacobus, the Latin version of James, after King James II/ VII, who was deposed on the Glorious Revolution.
Jacobite ideology began with James I/VI, the first monarch of England, Scotland and Ireland. The basis of the movement is the divine right, which claims that the monarch’s position and authority came from God alone.
When James II/ VII went into exile after the Glorious Revolution 1688, the Parliament in England argued that he had abandoned the throne and instead offered it to his daughter Mary and her husband William of Orange, who became Mary II and William III and ruled as joint sovereigns.
The revolution created the...Read More
Jacobitism was a movement that supported the restoration of the House of Stuart to the British Throne. The name Jacobite comes from Jacobus, the Latin version of James, after King James II/ VII, who was deposed on the Glorious Revolution.
Jacobite ideology began with James I/VI, the first monarch of England, Scotland and Ireland. The basis of the movement is the divine right, which claims that the monarch’s position and authority came from God alone.
When James II/ VII went into exile after the Glorious Revolution 1688, the Parliament in England argued that he had abandoned the throne and instead offered it to his daughter Mary and her husband William of Orange, who became Mary II and William III and ruled as joint sovereigns.
The revolution created the principle of a contract between the monarch and the people, allowing the people to remove the monarch should they violate that contract. The Jacobites argued that monarchs were appointed by God, and could not be removed, therefore, making the forced abdication of James II and the appointment of his daughter, illegitimate. Depending on where you were in Great Britain or France, the main ideas of the Jacobites differ. In Ireland, Jacobites campaigned for a tolerance of Catholicism and Irish autonomy. The Jacobite cause was strongest in Scotland, particularly in the highlands.
The Jacobite succession is the line through which Jacobites believed that the crown should have descended. James II/VII’s descendants were excluded from the line of succession because of their Roman Catholicism. James’ son, James Francis Edward Stuart was known as the Old Pretender and his grandson, Charles Edward Stuart, known as the Young Pretender or Bonnie Prince Charlie. Both actively participated in uprising and invasions in support of their claim.
From 1689 until around the early 19th century, the issue of the Jacobite campaign was a major political issue across Britain, particularly in Scotland and Ireland. The Jacobite succession lost much its support after the disastrous Battle of Culloden in 1746.
Following the Glorious Revolution, the line of succession was altered by a series of English and Scottish laws, including the Act of Settlement. The Stuarts who claimed the thrones of England, Ireland and Scotland and were known as Pretenders are as follows:
James II / VII
11th December 1688 – 16th September 1701
James was the final King from this line, he lawfully succeeded his brother, Charles II to the English and Scottish thrones as Charles didn’t have any legitimate children. As James was a Roman Catholic and parliament were concerned about a return to a catholic monarchy, James’ daughter and her husband William of Orange were invited to England to be offered the throne. James fled the country in 1688 and the English parliament declared that he had abdicated. The Scottish agreed, and William and Mary were crowned. However, James and his supporters denied that he had abdicated and had been usurped, maintaining that he continued to be the rightful king.
Find out more about James here.
James Francis Edward Stuart
aka James III/VIII or the Old Pretender
16th September 1701 – 1st January 1766
Upon the death of his father, he inherited his claim to the throne.
Charles Edward Stuart
aka Charles III, Bonnie Prince Charlie or the Young Pretender
1st January 1766 – 31st January 1788
On the death of his father, as James’ oldest son, assumed his claim to the throne, gathering enough support to take part in the Battle of Culloden.
Henry Benedict Stuart
31st January 1788 – 13th July 1807
Henry used the title of Duke of York and as Charles’ only brother, was the last surviving legitimate descendant of James II. He was not ever recognised by the British as being Duke of York.
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