King James II

King James II was the king of England, Scotland, and Ireland from 1685 until 1688. He was a Catholic monarch in a predominantly Protestant nation, which led to significant tension. His policies aimed at promoting religious tolerance for Catholics were unpopular and sparked fears of a Catholic absolute monarchy. In 1688, he was deposed in the Glorious Revolution, when William of Orange invaded England, leading to James's exile. His reign highlighted issues of religious freedom and the balance of power between monarchy and parliament, shaping the future of British constitutional monarchy.