Born to be Kings? (Hardback)

A detailed academic history which reads like an 'inside story' and shows the British state following the rise to great power status after the Treaty of Utrecht in 1713. The Jacobite challenge came from within with fear of foreign invasion by international great power rivals, France and Spain in support of the Stuarts. The challenge went to the heart of the British establishment following the defeat and exile of James II and advent of William and Mary - the 'Glorious Revolution' in 1688 and the reigns of the Hanoverian George 1 and II. This challenge was seen as an existential threat to the British state as a great power. English Tory fears of hostility from the new Hanoverian heir lead to attempt to pre-empt Hanoverian Succession by bringing in James II's son, but he refuses to help this by abandoning Catholicism. At crucial moment, with new king George I disliked and significant Tory grass-roots plotting, Jacobite sponsor Louis XIV dies - then hired shipping is wrecked in Channel storm. The latter recurs for Bonnie Prince Charlie in 1744.

The following themes caused great worries for governments and even after final resolution left doubt - even the Hanoverians contemplate decamping to Germany. Included were the birth of a male heir to James II; dissent and religion - trial of the Seven Bishops; William invasion was successful but with moves to back Mary as English sole queen; Nine Years War and opposition to William III's Grand Alliance of Protestant powers and distant support for Catholic Stuarts; fear of French invasion and coup and William III regicide; Hanoverian succession but Scottish Stuart opposition with great power support of France, Sweden, Russia, Spain; the 'Fifteen' 1715-16 and 'Forty-five' 1745-6 rebellions and invasions defeated but panic in Westminster government; lingering Jacobite support and plots of coups against George II.