Post by ~Charlotte~ on Jan 3, 2007 19:42:53 GMT
Name: James Stuart, Duke of York (later James II)
Date of Birth and Age: 13/9/1633 Forty one.
Nationality: Half English/Half French
Occupation/Status: Duke of York, Admiral of the British Navy, Heir Presumptive.
Appearance: Not as tall or as handsome as his brother Charles, James has a thinner face and lighter looks, still with the wide Stuart smile. His face is neat and often clean shaven, though sometimes a little rugged. He also has a shaved head and wears a dark periwig like the King.
Personality: Unlike his brother, James has little time for pleasures, and prefers to be working or fighting. He does like to enjoy himself; however, he lacks the patience and charm of the King. When angered he flies into a rage and has a tendency to spit. At his worst he is rash and selfish, making many of the same mistakes as his father did. He often will not listen to advice from others, and is rather pious.
History : James, the second surviving son of Charles I and Henrietta Maria of France, was born at St. James's Palace in 1633 and created Duke of York in 1644. During the English Civil War he stayed in Oxford, a Royalist stronghold. When the city surrendered in 1646, the Duke of York was confined in St James's Palace by parliamentary command. In 1648, he escaped from the Palace, from where he went to The Hague in disguise.
When Charles I was executed by the rebels in 1649, monarchists proclaimed the Duke of York's elder brother, Charles, as King Charles II. Charles II was recognised by the Parliament of Scotland and the Parliament of Ireland, and was crowned King of Scots at Scone, in Scotland, in 1651. He was, however, unable to secure the Crown of England, and consequently fled to France.
Like his brother, James sought refuge in France, serving in the French army under Turenne. In 1656, when his brother, Charles, entered into an alliance with Spain—an enemy of France—he joined the Spanish army under Louis, Prince of Condé.
In 1660, with Oliver Cromwell dead, Charles II was restored to the English Throne. Though James was the heir-presumptive, it seemed unlikely that he would actually inherit the Crown, for Charles was still a young man capable of fathering children. In September 1660, James (who was also created Duke of Albany in Scotland) wed Lady Anne Hyde, the daughter of Charles's chief minister, Edward Hyde, 1st Earl of Clarendon. Their children are Mary, who is married to William of Orange, and Anne. However, it is not obvious that it is James and his family who will inherit the throne, as Queen Catherine is unable to have children.
James was admitted to the Roman Catholic Church in about 1668 or 1669, although this was kept secret for some time.
Charles II opposed the conversion, ordering that James' children be raised as Protestants. Nevertheless, in 1673, he allowed James (whose first wife had died in 1671) to marry the Catholic Mary of Modena, a pretty young Italian. Many English people, distrustful of Catholicism, regarded the new Duchess of York as an agent of the Pope. The notion of a Catholic King is an unpopular one. The people of England still remember the days of ‘Bloody Mary’. Thus, James is an unpopular choice for the heir…
Roleplay sample: James made the sign of the cross before leaving the chapel. Outside, lurking about was his second cousin, Frederick de Bourbon, who smiled wickedly at him.
“Your Grace, I have news from France of my sister…”
“I have little time for you or your sister Frederick…now leave before I have someone make you leave.”
James could not be bothered with the intrigue his cousin seemed to thrust upon him. Frederick was more trouble than he was worth. His sister was only guilty by association…in reality James knew she was a sweet girl who would never harm anyone. Still, that did not stop him from stalking away down the corridor with a grim look of anger upon his face.
Image:
Date of Birth and Age: 13/9/1633 Forty one.
Nationality: Half English/Half French
Occupation/Status: Duke of York, Admiral of the British Navy, Heir Presumptive.
Appearance: Not as tall or as handsome as his brother Charles, James has a thinner face and lighter looks, still with the wide Stuart smile. His face is neat and often clean shaven, though sometimes a little rugged. He also has a shaved head and wears a dark periwig like the King.
Personality: Unlike his brother, James has little time for pleasures, and prefers to be working or fighting. He does like to enjoy himself; however, he lacks the patience and charm of the King. When angered he flies into a rage and has a tendency to spit. At his worst he is rash and selfish, making many of the same mistakes as his father did. He often will not listen to advice from others, and is rather pious.
History : James, the second surviving son of Charles I and Henrietta Maria of France, was born at St. James's Palace in 1633 and created Duke of York in 1644. During the English Civil War he stayed in Oxford, a Royalist stronghold. When the city surrendered in 1646, the Duke of York was confined in St James's Palace by parliamentary command. In 1648, he escaped from the Palace, from where he went to The Hague in disguise.
When Charles I was executed by the rebels in 1649, monarchists proclaimed the Duke of York's elder brother, Charles, as King Charles II. Charles II was recognised by the Parliament of Scotland and the Parliament of Ireland, and was crowned King of Scots at Scone, in Scotland, in 1651. He was, however, unable to secure the Crown of England, and consequently fled to France.
Like his brother, James sought refuge in France, serving in the French army under Turenne. In 1656, when his brother, Charles, entered into an alliance with Spain—an enemy of France—he joined the Spanish army under Louis, Prince of Condé.
In 1660, with Oliver Cromwell dead, Charles II was restored to the English Throne. Though James was the heir-presumptive, it seemed unlikely that he would actually inherit the Crown, for Charles was still a young man capable of fathering children. In September 1660, James (who was also created Duke of Albany in Scotland) wed Lady Anne Hyde, the daughter of Charles's chief minister, Edward Hyde, 1st Earl of Clarendon. Their children are Mary, who is married to William of Orange, and Anne. However, it is not obvious that it is James and his family who will inherit the throne, as Queen Catherine is unable to have children.
James was admitted to the Roman Catholic Church in about 1668 or 1669, although this was kept secret for some time.
Charles II opposed the conversion, ordering that James' children be raised as Protestants. Nevertheless, in 1673, he allowed James (whose first wife had died in 1671) to marry the Catholic Mary of Modena, a pretty young Italian. Many English people, distrustful of Catholicism, regarded the new Duchess of York as an agent of the Pope. The notion of a Catholic King is an unpopular one. The people of England still remember the days of ‘Bloody Mary’. Thus, James is an unpopular choice for the heir…
Roleplay sample: James made the sign of the cross before leaving the chapel. Outside, lurking about was his second cousin, Frederick de Bourbon, who smiled wickedly at him.
“Your Grace, I have news from France of my sister…”
“I have little time for you or your sister Frederick…now leave before I have someone make you leave.”
James could not be bothered with the intrigue his cousin seemed to thrust upon him. Frederick was more trouble than he was worth. His sister was only guilty by association…in reality James knew she was a sweet girl who would never harm anyone. Still, that did not stop him from stalking away down the corridor with a grim look of anger upon his face.
Image: