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Cromwell's failure to put in place a
workable alternative to the monarchy, resulted in the
country bringing back from exile the monarchy in the form
of Charles II, son of the beheaded Charles I. Charles'
lasting place in posterity is due to his penchant for
mistresses (right) and the resultant illegitimate
children, many of whom received dukedoms which survive to
this day |
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Soon after Charles succession Britain had
two major catastrophes - the Plague in 1665 (that is a
doctor on the left in protective gear) 70,000 died in
London alone and the Great Fire of London (right) the
following year. However it was the succession that
concerned the country. Charles produced no legitimate
heirs, and it was his Catholic brother James II who
succeeded him in 1685. Britain had briefly been republic,
but it was now back to Protestant and Catholic kings
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| James II reign proved disastrous, he
antagonized the government by suspending the anti
Catholic laws, then arresting 6 bishops, finally James
second wife produced a male heir, (James the old
pretender). Leading politicians turned |
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to James II Protestant daughter Mary and
her husband William of Orange and offered them the
throne. William landed with an army . James fled to
Ireland, where he was eventually defeated in battle by
William. James II son, the old pretender and grandson,
the young pretender, both tried to re-take the throne but
failed |
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Anne, Younger, Protestant
daughter of James II succeeded to the throne in
1702. |
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Her reign is noted for the rise of the
Churchill's. Anne,s childhood friend Sarah, married John
Churchill. Churchill was a brilliant general, who finally
succeeded in defeating the French after marching his army
600 miles across Europe. The battle of Blenheim 1704 saw
the end of French dominance in |
Europe. Churchill was rewarded with the
title Duke of Marlborough, and Blenheim Palace was paid
for by the nation. Sarah Churchill and Anne quarreled a
few years later and their influence on state affairs
declined |
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