Mary II

Maria II Stuart

1662 Mary II

James II 1633-1701

Mary II after William Wissing

King William III of England, (1650-1702)

5 Guineas, William III and Mary, England, 1692 - Bode-Museum - DSC02760

Mary II (30 April 1662 – 28 December 1694) was Queen of England, Scotland, and Ireland from 13 February 1689 until her death. She ruled jointly with her husband, William III & II, who became co-ruler in 1689 following the Glorious Revolution. Mary II was the daughter of James II & VII, who was deposed during the Revolution, and her accession marked the beginning of a period known as the Williamite War in Ireland and the Jacobite Risings in Scotland.

Early Life

Mary was born at St. James's Palace in London, the eldest daughter of James, Duke of York (later James II & VII), and his first wife, Anne Hyde. Mary's upbringing was marked by her conversion to Protestantism at a young age, which set her apart from her father's Catholic faith. Her education was typical for a woman of her status and included lessons in religion, languages, and music.

Marriage

In 1677, Mary married her first cousin, William of Orange, in a union that was both political and personal. William was a staunch Protestant and the leading opponent of Catholicism in Europe, which made the marriage popular among Protestants in England. The couple had no surviving children, which would later have implications for the succession of the British throne.

Glorious Revolution

The Glorious Revolution was precipitated by the birth of James II & VII's son, James Francis Edward Stuart, in 1688, which threatened to establish a Catholic dynasty in England. Mary's husband, William of Orange, was invited by a group of English nobles to invade England and oust James II & VII. William's successful invasion and James's subsequent flight to France led to William and Mary being offered the throne by the Convention Parliament.

They were crowned as joint sovereigns in April 1689, under the condition that they accept the Declaration of Right, which later became the Bill of Rights 1689. This document limited the powers of the crown and laid the foundation for the modern constitutional monarchy.

Reign

Mary II's reign was marked by her joint rule with William III, who was often away on military campaigns. Mary acted as regent during his absences and proved to be a popular and effective ruler. Her main contributions were in the realm of church and state, where she worked to strengthen the Church of England and ensure tolerance for Protestant dissenters.

The most significant military conflict during their reign was the Nine Years' War (1688–1697), which was part of a larger European conflict involving France. In Ireland, the Williamite War saw William III's forces defeat the Jacobite supporters of James II & VII at the Battle of the Boyne in 1690, securing Protestant supremacy in Ireland.

Death and Legacy

Mary II died of smallpox on 28 December 1694, at the age of 32. Her death was widely mourned, and she was buried in Westminster Abbey. Mary did not live to see the end of the Nine Years' War, which concluded with the Treaty of Ryswick in 1697.

Mary II's legacy is complex. She is remembered for her role in the Glorious Revolution and for her contributions to establishing a constitutional monarchy in Britain. However, her reign is also associated with the suppression of Catholicism and the harsh treatment of Jacobites. Despite these controversies, Mary II remains a significant figure in British history for her role in shaping the monarchy and the state.