Why did James II of England succeed Charles II of England?
Inheritance, after failed attempts to exclude him. Brother — Charles II had no legitimate children.
The short answer
Charles II died on 6 February 1685 without a legitimate heir, so the crown passed to his brother James, a Catholic. Parliament had tried three times (1679–1681) to pass an Exclusion Bill barring him; all failed. Within months the Duke of Monmouth, Charles's illegitimate son, rebelled and was defeated at Sedgemoor.
Who they were
Key points
- No legitimate children of Charles II
- Exclusion Crisis of 1679–1681 failed to remove James from the succession
- Monmouth Rebellion crushed in July 1685
Sources
- James II of EnglandAccession and the Monmouth Rebellion
- Exclusion CrisisAttempts to bar James from the throne
Explanation written and reviewed by HistorIQly · reviewed 2026-09-18. Part of the House of Stuart family tree. Background on Wikipedia.
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