British Royalty in Rome

British history extends much further than its phsical borders and can often be found in many other places you may visit. For this reason it is important to keep your eyes open when traveling as you never know what you may discover. In St. Peter's in Rome, for example, you can see the tombs of "The Old Pretender", James Francis Edward Stuart, the son of the deposed Catholic King James II and his two sons Charles Edward "The Young Pretender" and Henry Benedict. The son of James II and his Catholic second wife Mary of Modena, James Francis Edward Stuart's birth in 1688 was controversial as it raised the prospect of succession of a Catholic king. James II was unpopular and the birth of an heir precipitated his fall when William of Orange, who had married James’ daughter Mary, was invited to take the throne the ‘Glorious Revolution’. James abdicated a few months later when his forces faced defeat by William, and he, his wife Mary of Modena and baby son James fled to France. After his father's death, James Francis Edward became the Stuart heir, and was recognized by many Catholic powers throughout Europe. He moved to Rome in 1717, where he lived out his life under papal protection, marrying and raising his sons.

Technically the monument is a cenotaph and not a tomb as the three Stuarts are buried in the crypt below the basilica. Opposite the monument to the Royal Stuarts in St. Peter's Basilica is one to Maria Clementina Sobieska, James Francis Edward Stuart's wife and mother of Charles Edward and Henry Benedict. You can find the monument to the three Stuarts towards the back of the basilica in the left aisle opposite the door from which people coming down the spiral staircase from the dome and roof exit. Jacobite romantics frequenly leave flowers here. If you are one too you may want to seek out the monument on your next visit to Rome.