The four generations of Stuart reign—James I, his son Charles I, his sons Charles II and James II, and James’s daughters Mary and Anne—represented a manifestation of chaos and conflict. Particularly in the reigns of the male Stuarts, the battles between Catholic and Protestant, King and Parliament, and England and the continent rocked the country, weakened the peace and prosperity, and threatened future of the monarchy (in fact, eliminated the monarchy for a period of time!).

Two sets of siblings sat on the throne during the Stuart regime: brothers Charles II and James II and sisters Mary and Anne. Their relationships and their reigns reimagined the monarchy, the role and power of Parliament, and the place of England on the world stage.

Stuart sibling rule: it changed everything.

Royal brothers Charles and James lived through one of the most turbulent periods of the monarchy: the declaration of war between Parliament and King, and years of a Civil War. Both brothers supported their father and ultimately fled the country to stay safe and keep trying to return.

After Cromwell's death, Parliament invited Charles to return and take the throne. Determined to recreate the magnificence of royal rule, Charles created new coronation regalia, established a glittering court, and earned the nickname "The Merry Monarch." But he also had to deal with plague, the Great Fire, and the lack of legitimate children. He'd had to give some power to Parliament and couldn't enact the pro-Catholic legislation he wanted to. Eventually, he became a Catholic on his death-bed and left the throne to his Catholic brother, James.

King James II's religious views were well-known by the time he came to the throne, and rebellions against him came quickly. He prevailed, but when he sought to marry a second time and possibly have a son who would prevent his Protestant daughter Mary from inheriting the throne, things came to a head. After his son was born, Parliament invited Mary and her husband William to "invade" England and take the throne. The King's support faded and he fled, leaving the throne to joint rulers William and Mary.

The two Stuart brothers had seen England through some of its most turbulent times: battles of religion, plague, fire, threats from abroad, rebellions at home. Charles II was invited back to restore the monarchy; William and Mary were invited to invade and end the reign of James II. Their reigns changed everything.

History shows us what's possible.