Portrait of Mary of Modena (1658-1718), Queen of England, three-quarter-length, seated by a bouquet of flowers

Mary of Modena was born on 5 October 1658, the only daughter of Alfonso d'Este, Duke of Modena. She had originally intended to enter a convent when her marriage to James, Duke of York, heir presumptive to the throne of England, was arranged in November 1673. On the death of King Charles II, her husband became King of England and they were crowned on 23 April 1685. After the birth of her son, Prince James Edward, on 10 June 1688, public feeling against her and the King came to a head, and, in consequence of the landing of Prince William of Orange, she fled England with her son to France; the King joined her later and they remained there under the protection of King Louis XIV. She died on 7 May 1718.