James Scott, Duke of Monmouth
James Scott, 1st Duke of Monmouth, 1st Duke of Buccleuch (1649 – 1685), was born in Rotterdam in the Dutch Republic. He was the eldest of the dozen illegitimate sons which King Charles II of England, Scotland and Ireland had had by different mistresses. James' mother was Lucy Walter. At the time of the birth of James Scott, Charles was living in continental exile following his father's execution. James spent his early life in Schiedam near Rotterdam. |
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James Scott served in the Second Anglo-Dutch War (1665-1667) and commanded English troops taking part in the Third Anglo-Dutch War (1672-1674) before commanding the Anglo-Dutch brigade fighting in the Franco-Dutch War (1672-1678).
On the death of King Charles II in 1685, his brother (Monmouth's uncle) became King James II. Shortly afterwards, Monmouth led a rebellion to depose his uncle. Because King James' Catholicism was deeply unpopular, Monmouth's first advantage was his Protestantism. Protestantism was the "Established Church" of England. Monmouth's other advantage was that, as the son of King Charles II, he genuinely had a legal claim to the throne. In other words, he was genuinely "in line for the throne" (in the line of succession for the throne). The Rebellion started when Monmouth left the Dutch Republic and arrived in S.W. England. There were various skirmishes around S.W. England between Monmouth's forces and King James' army. The defeat of Monmouth's forces at the Battle of Sedgemoor (1685) marked the unsuccessful end of the rebellion and Monmouth was beheaded for treason on 15 July 1685.
William had strongly supported King James during the rebellion, he even sent Scottish and English soldiers from the Dutch army to England to help to quell the rebellion. He also sent his favourite, Bentinck, to London to meet James.
On the death of King Charles II in 1685, his brother (Monmouth's uncle) became King James II. Shortly afterwards, Monmouth led a rebellion to depose his uncle. Because King James' Catholicism was deeply unpopular, Monmouth's first advantage was his Protestantism. Protestantism was the "Established Church" of England. Monmouth's other advantage was that, as the son of King Charles II, he genuinely had a legal claim to the throne. In other words, he was genuinely "in line for the throne" (in the line of succession for the throne). The Rebellion started when Monmouth left the Dutch Republic and arrived in S.W. England. There were various skirmishes around S.W. England between Monmouth's forces and King James' army. The defeat of Monmouth's forces at the Battle of Sedgemoor (1685) marked the unsuccessful end of the rebellion and Monmouth was beheaded for treason on 15 July 1685.
William had strongly supported King James during the rebellion, he even sent Scottish and English soldiers from the Dutch army to England to help to quell the rebellion. He also sent his favourite, Bentinck, to London to meet James.