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Jacobitism

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Not to be confused with Jacobinism, Jacobitism was the political movement dedicated to the return of the Stuart kings to the thrones of England and Scotland (and later, the United Kingdom).

Jacobitism was a response to the deposition of James II in 1688 and his replacement with William of Orange. The Stuarts resided on the European continent after that, occasionally attempting to regain the throne with the aid of France. Within the British Isles, the primary seats of Jacobitism were Ireland and especially Highland Scotland.

Jacobitism entered permanent decline after one final Highland rebellion in 1745. Afterwards, it was mainly a subject of romantic poetry and literature, notably the work of Sir Walter Scott and Algernon Swinburne. The last Stuart pretender to the throne was the self-styled Henry IX, younger brother of Charles Edward. After the collapse of the Stuart cause in 1745 he became a Roman Catholic priest, and eventually a Cardinal. He left the House of Hanover the remaining crown jewels of James II ((and was appointed Duke of York in return.))

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