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Jacobite line of succession to the English and Scottish thrones in 1714

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The following is the Jacobite line of succession to the English and Scottish thrones as of the death of Anne, Queen of Great Britain, on 1 August 1714. It reflects the laws current in England and Scotland immediately before the Act of Settlement 1701, which disqualified Catholics from the throne.[1]

Background

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Queen Anne, the last monarch of the House of Stuart

Queen Anne of Great Britain was the last monarch of the House of Stuart. All of Anne's children died before age 12, resulting in a succession crisis which ultimately led to an Act of Parliament to designate Anne's successor.

The Act of Settlement, drawn up in 1701, settled the succession on Sophia of the Palatinate, Electress of Hanover, and the heirs of her body, barring any Roman Catholics or spouses of Roman Catholics from the succession. This was a deliberate attempt to disinherit Anne's nearest blood relation, the exiled Roman Catholic James Stuart (who would later be known as the 'Old Pretender'), her half-brother, from inheriting the throne. The Act changed the course of British history and had many political consequences, primarily leading to the Jacobite Revolt.

At the time of Anne's death in August 1714, 66 descendants of the Stuart dynasty were alive, but the first 54, being Roman Catholic, were excluded by the Act of Settlement. The succession thus fell to Elector George Louis of Hanover, the eldest son of Electress Sophia (who had died a few months before), to the British throne.

This article lists the 66 potential claimants.

Line of succession

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To show how each person's claim was derived, their ancestors back to King James I and VI – the first to occupy both thrones – are listed, without numbers. Eligible Protestants according to the Act of Settlement are noted in italics.

See also

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References

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  1. ^ A. C. Addington, The Royal House of Stuart, vols. 1–3 (London: Charles Skilton Ltd, 1966–1976)
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