Mary of Modena definition of Mary of Modena in the Free Online Encyclopedia.

Mary of Modena (mŏd`ĭnə), 1658–1718, queen consort of James II James II, 1633–1701, king of England, Scotland, and Ireland (1685–88); second son of Charles I, brother and successor of Charles II .

Early Life

..... Click the link for more information. of England; daughter of Alfonso IV, duke of Modena. Her marriage (1673) to James, then duke of York, was brought about through the influence of Louis XIV of France. Mary was a devout Roman Catholic and therefore unpopular in Protestant England. When she bore a son in 1688, it was widely rumored that this Catholic heir to the throne was a changeling, and fear of a Catholic succession precipitated the Glorious Revolution Glorious Revolution, in English history, the events of 1688–89 that resulted in the deposition of James II and the accession of William III and Mary II to the English throne. It is also called the Bloodless Revolution.
..... Click the link for more information. that overthrew James II. Mary fled to France with her son, James Francis Edward Stuart Stuart or Stewart, James Francis Edward, 1688–1766, claimant to the British throne, son of James II and Mary of Modena ; called the Old Pretender.
..... Click the link for more information. , and worked tirelessly to advance his claims to the English throne (see Jacobites Jacobites (jăk`əbīts')
..... Click the link for more information. ).