James Francis Edward Stuart

Prince James Prince of Wales; Jacobite Pretender James Francis Edward Stuart, "The Old Pretender" Predecessor James II and VIISuccessor Charles Edward StuartSpouse Maria Klementyna SobieskaIssue Charles Edward Stuart
Henry Benedict StuartFull name James Francis Edward Stuart DetailTitles and styles James Stuart
The Prince of Wales
The Duke of Cornwall Royal house House of StuartFather James II and VIIMother Mary of ModenaBorn 10 June 1688(1688-06-10)
St. James's Palace, LondonDied 1 January 1766(aged 77)
Palazzo Muti, RomeBurial St. Peter's Basilica, Vatican City

The Prince James, Prince of Wales (James Francis Edward Stuart; "The Old Pretender" or "The Old Chevalier"; 10 June 1688 – 1 January 1766) was the son of the deposed James II and VII. As such, he claimed the English, Scottish and Irish thrones (as James III and VIII) from the death of his father in 1701, when he was proclaimed king of England, Scotland and Ireland by his cousin Louis XIV of France.

1 Birth and childhood
2 Struggle for the throne
- 2.1 Jacobite rising
- 2.2 The Fifteen
3 Life as the "Pretender"
4 Titles and honours
5 Ancestry
6 See also
7 Notes and sources

Birth and childhood

James Francis Edward, about 1703, portrait in the Royal Collection attributed to Alexis Simon Belle

From the moment of his birth, on 10 June 1688, at St. James's Palace, the prince was the subject of controversy. He was born to the reigning king, James II of England and VII of Scots, and his Roman Catholic second wife, Mary of Modena, and as such was automatically Duke of Cornwall and Duke of Rothesay among other titles.

James II had two adult daughters from his first marriage who had been brought up in the Protestant faith. As long as there was a possibility of one of them succeeding him directly, his opponents saw his rule as only a temporary setback. When people began to fear that Mary would produce a son and heir, a movement grew to replace James by force with his elder daughter Princess Mary & son-in-law/nephew, William of Orange.

When the young prince was born, a false rumour was immediately spread that the call for a "warming-pan" had been the pretext for a substitution, the real baby having allegedly been born dead. On 10 December, within six months of his birth, Mary of Modena left London and took him to France for safety, while his father continued to fight (unsuccessfully) to retain his crown.

With his sister Louisa Maria, the prince was brought up in France. There, recognised by King Louis XIV of France as the rightful heir to the English and Scottish thrones, he became the focus for the Jacobite movement.

Struggle for the throne

James Stuart, the "Old Pretender."

On his father's death in 1701, he declared himself King, with the title of James III and VIII and recognised as such by France, Spain, the Papal States and Modena. All of these states refused to recognise William III, Mary II or Queen Anne as the legitimate British sovereign. As a result of this, he was attainted for treason, 2 March 1702, and his titles forfeited under British law.[1]

Jacobite rising

Having been delayed in France by an attack of measles, James attempted an invasion, trying to land at the Firth of Forth on 23 March 1708. His French ships were driven back by the fleet of Admiral Sir George Byng.

Had he renounced his Roman Catholic faith, he might have succeeded to the throne after the death of his half-sister Anne,[citation needed] but he refused to do so. As a result, in 1714, a German Protestant became King—George I of Great Britain.

French forces were defeated, and Louis XIV of France was forced to accept peace with England and her allies. He signed the Treaty of Utrecht, in 1713, that, amongst other conditions, required him to expel James from France.

The Fifteen

In the following year, the Jacobites instigated "The 'Fifteen" Jacobite rising in Scotland, aimed at restoring "James III and VIII" to the throne. In 1715, James finally set foot on Scottish soil, following the indecisive Battle of Sheriffmuir, but he was disappointed by the strength of support he found. Instead of carrying through the plans for a coronation at Scone, he returned to France, sailing from Montrose. He was not welcomed back, because his patron, Louis XIV, was dead and the government found him an embarrassment.

Life as the "Pretender"

Pope Clement XI offered James the Palazzo Muti in Rome as his residence, and he accepted. Innocent XIII, like his predecessor, showed much support. Thanks to the mediation of a close friend of his, Cardinal Filippo Antonio Gualterio, James was granted a life annuity of eight thousand Roman scudi. Such help enabled him to organise a Roman Jacobite court, where the Pope's cousin, Francesco Maria Conti of Siena, was the Gentiluomo di camera (Chamberlain).

Marriage

On 3 September 1719, James Francis Edward Stuart married Maria Clementina Sobieska (1702–35), granddaughter of the Polish king, John III Sobieski. They had two sons:

Charles Edward Stuart, (31 December 1720 – 31 January 1788), aka "Bonnie Prince Charlie"
Henry Benedict Stuart, (11 March 1725 – 13 July 1807), Cardinal of the Roman Catholic Church

Bonnie Prince Charlie

Following James's failure, attention turned to his handsome and charismatic son, "Bonnie Prince Charlie", whose rebellion of 1745 came closer to success than his father's. With the failure of this second rebellion, however, the Stuart hopes of regaining the British throne were effectively destroyed.

Tomb of James Francis Edward Stuart

Death

James died in Rome on 1 January 1766, and was buried in St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican. From 14 January the Papacy recognized the Hanoverian dynasty as the legitimate rulers of Britain and Ireland.

Titles and honours

Titles

10 June – 4 July 1688: The Duke of Cornwall
4 July [2] – 2 March 1702: The Prince of Wales
2 March 1702 – 1 January 1766: James Francis Edward Stuart
- Jacobite, 11 December 1688 – 16 September 1701: The Prince of Wales
- Jacobite, 16 September 1701 – 1 January 1766: His Majesty The King

James's full titles before his father's deposition were: Prince James Francis Edward, Prince of Wales and Earl of Chester, Duke of Cornwall, Duke of Rothesay, Earl of Carrick, Baron Renfrew, Lord of the Isles, Prince and Great Steward of Scotland, Knight Companion of the Most Noble Order of the Garter

Upon his father's deposition he lost his automatic titles as eldest son of the Soveriegn (i.e. Duke of Cornwall, Duke of Rothesay, Earl of Carrick, Baron Renfrew, Lord of the Isles, Prince and Great Steward of Scotland). Thus he was Prince James Francis Edward, Prince of Wales and Earl of Chester, Knight Companion of the Most Noble Order of the Garter until his attainture for treason[citation needed]

Honours

KG: Knight of the Garter, 1692 – 2 March 1702

Arms

As Prince of Wales, James bore a coat of arms consisting of those of the kingdom, differenced by a label argent of three points[3]

Ancestry

v • d • eAncestors of James Francis Edward Stuart 16. Henry Stuart, Lord Darnley 8. James I of England 17. Mary I of Scotland 4. Charles I of England 18. Frederick II of Denmark 9. Princess Anne of Denmark 19. Sofie of Mecklenburg-Schwerin 2. James II of England 20. Antoine of Bourbon, Duke of Vendôme 10. Henry IV of France 21. Jeanne III of Navarre 5. Princess Henrietta Maria of France 22. Francesco I de' Medici, Grand Duke of Tuscany 11. Marie de' Medici 23. Archduchess Johanna of Austria 1. James Francis Edward Stuart 24. Alfonso III d'Este, Duke of Modena 12. Francesco I d'Este, Duke of Modena 25. Isabella of Savoy 6. Alfonso IV d'Este, Duke of Modena 26. Ranuccio I Farnese, Duke of Parma 13. Maria Farnese 27. Margherita Aldobrandini 3. Mary of Modena 28. Vincenzo Martinozzi 14. Hieronymus Martinozzi 29. Margherita Marcolini 7. Laura Martinozzi 30. Peter Mazarini 15. Laura Mazarini 31. Hortense Buffalini

Notes and sources

^ Complete Peerage. "Duke of Cornwall".
^ The Prince of Wales – Previous Princes
^ Marks of Cadency in the British Royal Family

James Francis Edward Stuart House of StuartBorn: 10 June 1688 Died: 1 January 1766 British royaltyPreceded by
Mary II Heir to the English, Scottish and Irish thronesSucceeded by
William IIIand Mary II
as mutual co-heirs Preceded by
Charles II of England Prince of WalesVacant Title next held by George II of Great Britain Titles in pretence Glorious Revolution— TITULAR —
Prince of Wales
(Jacobite succession)
1688–1701 Vacant Preceded by
James II & VII
(deposed from throne) — TITULAR —
King of England, Scotland, France & Ireland
(Jacobite succession)
1701–1766 Succeeded by
Charles III

v • d • e Dukes of Cornwall

HRH The Prince Charles, Duke of Cornwall

Edward, the Black Prince (1337–1376) · Richard II (1376–1377) · Henry V (1399–1413) · Henry VI (1421–1422) · Edward of Westminster (1453–1471) · Edward V (1470–1483) · Edward of Middleham (1483–1484) · Arthur, Prince of Wales (1486–1502) · Henry VIII (1502–1509) · Henry Tudor (1511) · Henry Tudor (1514) · Edward VI (1537–1547) · Henry Frederick, Prince of Wales (1603–1612) · Charles I (1612–1625) · Charles James (1629) · Charles II (1630–1649) · The Old Pretender (1688–1689) · George II (1714–1727) · Prince Frederick (1727–1751) · George IV (1762–1820) · Edward VII (1841–1901) · George V (1901–1910)· Edward VIII (1910–1936)

v • d • e Dukes of Rothesay

HRH The Prince Charles, Duke of Rothesay

David (1398–1402) · James I (1402–1406) · Alexander (1430) · James II (1430–1437) · James III (1452–1460) · James IV (1473–1488) · James (1507–1508) · Arthur (1509–1510) · James V (1512–1513) · James (1540–1541) · James VI (1566–1567) · Henry Frederick, Prince of Wales (1603–1612) · Charles I (1612–1625) · Charles James (1629) · Charles II (1630–1649) · The Old Pretender (1688–1689) · George II (1714–1727) · Prince Frederick (1727–1751) · George IV (1762–1820) · Edward VII (1841–1901) · George V (1901–1910) · Edward VIII (1910–1936)