James II (James II of England)

James II of England was king from 1685 to 1688. He was a devout Catholic in a predominantly Protestant country, which caused concern among many subjects and leaders. His efforts to promote religious tolerance and his attempts to centralize power challenged Parliament and traditional freedoms. This led to a Protestant-led uprising and his eventual overthrow in the Glorious Revolution, when he was replaced by his daughter Mary and her husband William of Orange. James's reign was significant for highlighting the struggle between monarchy and parliamentary authority, shaping the constitutional monarchy that England would become.