The Stuarts

S01E03 A Family At War

The tumultuous conclusion of the Stuart era was marked by a deep religious rift that split the family apart: brothers turned against each other, and two daughters sought to remove their father from power. In 1688, Charles II's brother, the Catholic James VII and II, was ousted by the Protestant William of Orange, ushering in Britain's transformation into a constitutional monarchy. However, the so-called 'Glorious Revolution' of 1688 came at a significant cost; Scotland lost its independence, becoming part of Great Britain in 1707, while Ireland was downgraded from a kingdom to a colony. The resulting political tensions have continued to plague Ireland to this day.