The Jacobite rising of 1689 was a conflict fought primarily in the Scottish Highlands, whose objective was to put James II & VII back on the throne, following his deposition by the November 1688 Glorious Revolution. Named after "Jacobus", the Latin for James, his supporters were known as 'Jacobites' and the associated political movement as Jacobitism. The 1689 rising was the first of a series of rebellions and plots seeking to restore the House of Stuart that continued into the late 18th century.
Part of the wider European conflict known as the Nine Years' War, the Scottish revolt was intended to support the 1689 to 1691 Williamite War in Ireland. Despite a decisive Jacobite victory at Killiecrankie in July 1689, their charismatic leader John Graham, 1st Viscount Dundee was killed in the final attack. His death, combined with limited internal or external support, meant the rising never presented a real threat to the new administration of William II & III and Mary II. Major military action ended at Cromdale in May 1690, although the Highlands were not finally brought under control until 1692, following the Massacre of Glencoe.
Background
In February 1685, James II & VII came to power with widespread support in all three kingdoms of England, Scotland and Ireland, despite his personal Catholicism. In predominantly Catholic Ireland, it was hoped he would return land confiscated from Catholics during the 17th century, and repeal penal laws restricting their right to hold public office. In England and Scotland, both of which were overwhelmingly Protestant, the experience of the 1638 to 1651 Wars of the Three Kingdoms meant many feared the consequences of bypassing the 'natural heir'. The desire for stability led to the rapid collapse of two Protestant risings in June 1685, the Monmouth Rebellion in England, and Argyll's Rising in Scotland.
The 1681 Scottish Succession and Test Acts made obedience to the monarch a legal obligation, 'regardless of religion'; in return, James swore to uphold the primacy of the Church of Scotland or kirk. By 1680, over 95 percent of Scots were members of the kirk; Catholics numbered less than 2% of the population and even other Protestant sects were barred. Attempts to repeal the Scottish Test Act undermined his moderate supporters, while rewarding the dissident Presbyterians who backed Argyll in 1685.
The perception that James was willing to ignore his commitments, his Coronation Oath and his own supporters seriously undermined his position in Scotland. In October 1685, an estimated 200,000 French Protestants were forced into exile by the Edict of Fontainebleau, while French expansion under Louis XIV threatened the Protestant Dutch Republic. Close economic and cultural ties between Scotland and fellow Calvinists in France and Holland exacerbated fears Protestant Europe was threatened by a Catholic counter-reformation.
Two events turned dissent into a crisis, the first being the birth on 10 June of James' son, James Francis Edward Stuart. Based on the principle of Primogeniture, he took precedence over the existing heirs, James' Protestant daughter Mary, and her husband William of Orange. For the first time, a Catholic monarch became a long-term prospect, rather than a temporary one. The second and connected issue was prosecution of the Seven Bishops, which seemed to go beyond advocating tolerance for Catholicism, and into an assault on the Church of England. This appeared to also threaten the kirk, and their acquittal on 30 June destroyed James' political authority in both Scotland and England.
Prior to 1685, many feared civil war if James were bypassed; by 1688, it seemed only his removal could prevent one. French preparations for a new offensive against the Dutch Republic and its allies made William anxious to either secure English resources, or prevent them being used against him. The Invitation to William published in July provided assurances of support for armed intervention from across the English political class, including those who had previously supported James. The Nine Years War began in September and on 5 November, William landed in Brixham with 14,000 men; as he advanced, much of the Royal Army deserted and James went into exile on 23 December. In February, the Parliament of England made William and Mary joint monarchs of England.