James II’s downfall between 1688 and 1689 was one of the most dramatic political reversals in English history, as decisive miscalculations led to his rapid loss of power.

James II’s Actions after 1685

Following his accession in 1685, James II pursued policies that steadily eroded support across the political and religious spectrum. He was determined to strengthen the monarchy and promote Catholic toleration. Yet his methods alienated both Parliament and the Anglican Church, institutions central to stability.

Catholic Promotion and the Army

• James advanced Catholic officers within the army, directly contravening the Test Acts.

• The use of dispensing power to override statutory law was perceived as illegal and tyrannical.

• The birth of James’s Catholic heir in June 1688 transformed fears into panic, as the succession appeared destined to remain Catholic indefinitely.

The Role of the Bishops and the Church

In 1688, James ordered the Declaration of Indulgence to be read from every pulpit. The refusal of the Seven Bishops to comply, and their subsequent trial, highlighted the deep resistance of the Anglican clergy to royal interference.

Engraving of the Seven Bishops imprisoned in the Tower of London in 1688 after resisting James II’s religious policy. Their prosecution galvanised Anglican and lay opposition, isolating the Crown. The image represents a crucial prelude to James’s loss of political support. Source

Alienation of Political Groups

• Tories, natural supporters of monarchy, were disillusioned by James’s disregard for law and the Church.

• Whigs, long hostile to Catholicism and absolutism, saw their fears confirmed.

• Even moderate figures who might have tolerated a Catholic monarch recoiled from James’s authoritarian style.

This use of royal prerogative placed James directly in conflict with constitutional traditions.

The Crisis of 1688

The Birth of a Heir

The birth of James Francis Edward Stuart on 10 June 1688 alarmed Protestants. A permanent Catholic dynasty seemed unavoidable, threatening the Protestant succession previously assumed to fall to James’s daughters, Mary and Anne.

The Invitation to William

In response, seven leading political figures – later known as the Immortal Seven – secretly invited William of Orange, the Protestant husband of James’s daughter Mary, to intervene militarily.

• William’s forces were welcomed as potential protectors of Protestant liberties.

• The invitation exposed the collapse of James’s authority among elites.

The Desertion of Key Figures

As William landed at Torbay in November 1688, defections from James’s camp began.

A labelled map tracing William of Orange’s 1688 route from Brixham/Torbay to London, clarifying the geographical logic of his advance and James’s weakening position. The map also depicts the Monmouth Rebellion (1685) with dashed lines — additional detail beyond the syllabus focus but helpful for context. Source

• Churchill (later Duke of Marlborough) and other officers deserted.

• James’s daughter Anne also defected, undermining dynastic loyalty.

• Regional gentry increasingly shifted allegiance to William.

James’s Defeat

Loss of Military Confidence

James initially planned to resist William’s advance with force. However, he soon discovered that his army, riddled with distrust and desertions, could not be relied upon.

• Panic and disorder spread through the royal ranks.

• The flight of leading officers crippled James’s military capacity.

With both political and military backing collapsing, James was unable to mount a serious defence.

Attempted Negotiations

James vacillated between conciliation and firmness:

• He offered concessions to the Church and Parliament but was no longer trusted.

• By this stage, many elites viewed compromise as insufficient.

The Departure of James II

The First Flight Attempt

On 11 December 1688, James attempted to flee London and threw the Great Seal into the River Thames to prevent governmental continuity.

An engraved plate of the Great Seal of James II, the emblem of royal authority for authenticating state documents. Its loss during James’s flight signalled a break in legal-administrative continuity. This visual anchors the departure narrative to a concrete constitutional symbol. Source

The Second Departure

William advanced towards London with growing support. Realising his position was untenable, James fled again on 23 December 1688, this time successfully escaping to France.

• He was received by Louis XIV, whose Catholic monarchy offered him refuge.

• William avoided formally deposing James, allowing him to appear as though he had abdicated by deserting the throne.

The Convention Parliament’s Role

With James absent, a Convention Parliament was summoned in January 1689. Parliament declared that James, by fleeing and subverting the constitution, had effectively abdicated.

• The throne was offered jointly to William III and Mary II, establishing a Protestant monarchy.

• James’s departure therefore marked not just personal defeat but the end of Catholic absolutism in England.

Key Reasons for Collapse

James II’s rapid downfall was the result of several interlinked factors:

• Religious alienation: Catholic promotion and the Declaration of Indulgence provoked universal Protestant opposition.

• Political miscalculation: His reliance on prerogative powers undermined trust.

• Dynastic fears: The birth of a Catholic heir made resistance urgent.

• Military unreliability: Desertion and distrust crippled defence.

• Loss of elite support: Both Whigs and Tories abandoned him.

The combined effect left James isolated, discredited, and ultimately incapable of retaining the throne. His actions, defeat, and departure in 1688–89 directly facilitated the Glorious Revolution, which reshaped the constitutional and religious framework of Britain.