# Duke of York — The Great Roxhythe character guide

> Duke of York in The Great Roxhythe by Georgette Heyer.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** York, James, King James, James Dart, the Papist James

**First appearance:** 0005-ii-the-king-his-councillors

## Snapshot

Charles's Catholic heir, torn between genuine faith and revulsion at the secret, dishonourable dealings his brother and Roxhythe conduct in the dark.

## Who they are

James wants the French alliance and the restoration of his religion, but he wants them openly, with Parliament's consent and the army behind him — not through clandestine treaties that make kings into thieves. He resents Charles's careless confidence in Roxhythe and suspects Louis of laying traps. His moral anguish and his jealousy of the favourite make him a restless, dangerous counterforce within the royal family itself.

## Relationships

### [King Charles II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_great_roxhythe_se/characters/king_charles_ii)

_family_

The Duke of York is King Charles II's younger brother and heir, with a relationship marked by loyalty but also religious and political tension.

### [Lord Roxhythe](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_great_roxhythe_se/characters/lord_roxhythe)

_professional_

The Duke of York and Lord Roxhythe maintain a working relationship, with Roxhythe often acting as a liaison between the king and his brother.

### [King Charles II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_great_roxhythe_se/characters/king_charles_ii)

_family_

The Duke of York is King Charles II's younger brother and heir, with a relationship marked by loyalty but also religious and political tension.

### [King Charles II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_great_roxhythe_se/characters/king_charles_ii)

_family_

The Duke of York is King Charles II's younger brother and heir, with a relationship marked by loyalty but also religious and political tension.

### [Lord Roxhythe](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_great_roxhythe_se/characters/lord_roxhythe)

_professional_

The Duke of York and Lord Roxhythe maintain a working relationship, with Roxhythe often acting as a liaison between the king and his brother.

### [Lord Roxhythe](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_great_roxhythe_se/characters/lord_roxhythe)

_professional_

The Duke of York and Lord Roxhythe maintain a working relationship, with Roxhythe often acting as a liaison between the king and his brother.

## In the story

### [II: The Offer](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_great_roxhythe_se/chapters/ii-the-offer)

Stiffens at Clifford's criticism of the French offer, supports Colbert, and later withdraws to let Charles and Roxhythe arrange matters privately.

### [VI: The Price](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_great_roxhythe_se/chapters/vi-the-price)

Expresses unease and anger, arguing against secret negotiations and for open, royal dealings.

### [X: May, 1670](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_great_roxhythe_se/chapters/x-may-1670)

Furious and despairing about the secrecy of the treaty. He expresses jealousy of Roxhythe and mistrust of Louis XIV, fearing a trap.

### [I: Whitehall](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_great_roxhythe_se/chapters/i-whitehall)

Mentioned as causing unpopularity due to his Catholic marriage and refusal to conform to the Test Act.

### [II: The Coming of William](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_great_roxhythe_se/chapters/ii-the-coming-of-william)

Present near the King during William's arrival, and his daughter Mary is discussed in the marriage scheme.

### [I: The Triple Game](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_great_roxhythe_se/chapters/i-the-triple-game)

Discussed as the target of exclusion; Roxhythe and the King plan to send him to Brussels to reduce agitation.

### [III: Agitations](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_great_roxhythe_se/chapters/iii-agitations)

Returns from Scotland; furious at Monmouth's return; accuses Roxhythe of double-dealing; argues for military action.

### [IV: The King His Triumph](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_great_roxhythe_se/chapters/iv-the-king-his-triumph)

Clamours for Monmouth's arrest and is wary of William of Orange.

### [February, 1685](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_great_roxhythe_se/chapters/vii-february-1685)

Attends his brother's deathbed and becomes king after Charles's death.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_great_roxhythe_se/characters/duke_of_york
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_great_roxhythe_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_great_roxhythe_se/characters