James II & the "Glorious Revolution"
Historiansplaining: A historian tells you why everything you know is wrong
00:00
What Was James' Life Like Before He Became King?
James II was the first Catholic ruler to come to the English throne since Mary Tudor, more than 100 years earlier. For most of his life it didn't seem too likely that he would become king but James had been waiting in the wings. As a teenager, James actually fought in one battle of the civil war and apparently was fairly competent - at least for his young age. He barely escaped from being taken prisoner by the parliamentarians. At the end of the war, he was able to escape abroad and go to France, where he joined his elder brother Charles in exile.
Transcript
Play full episode
