Mary II was born in 1662 she was the daughter of James II and Anne Hyde.
She was made to marry William of Orange (Holland) as a matter of Charles II's foreign
policy, which was a common political practise at the time.
They were also first cousins as they were both grandchildren of Charles I.
Mary did not like William at first but over time grew to love him and became a devoted
wife, however they did not have any children.
James II abandoned Anglicanism for Catholicism and proceeded to appoint Catholics
as high flying positions. This as well as other actions angered the Protestant Parliament
who turned to William of Orange urging him to save England from a Catholic
takeover. William's forces landed in England in November 1688. The mostly Protestant
army did not put up a fight and James II was forced to flee to France.
James II made one attempt to regain the crown, but his French and Irish forces were
easily defeated. James II ended up spending the rest of his life and dying in France.
William and Mary were crowned together at Westminster Abbey on 11th of April 1689.
William ruled along with his wife Mary as joint sovereigns until Mary died of smallpox in
1694. After Mary's death William III ruled on his own.
She was made to marry William of Orange (Holland) as a matter of Charles II's foreign
policy, which was a common political practise at the time.
They were also first cousins as they were both grandchildren of Charles I.
Mary did not like William at first but over time grew to love him and became a devoted
wife, however they did not have any children.
James II abandoned Anglicanism for Catholicism and proceeded to appoint Catholics
as high flying positions. This as well as other actions angered the Protestant Parliament
who turned to William of Orange urging him to save England from a Catholic
takeover. William's forces landed in England in November 1688. The mostly Protestant
army did not put up a fight and James II was forced to flee to France.
James II made one attempt to regain the crown, but his French and Irish forces were
easily defeated. James II ended up spending the rest of his life and dying in France.
William and Mary were crowned together at Westminster Abbey on 11th of April 1689.
William ruled along with his wife Mary as joint sovereigns until Mary died of smallpox in
1694. After Mary's death William III ruled on his own.
WILLIAM & MARY 1689-1694
