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King of Scotland, England and Ireland

James VI of Scotland / James I of England

James Stuart

1566–1625HistoryHistorical FiguresEuropeJacobites of Europe

The King Who United Two Crowns

The Story

Born in Edinburgh Castle in 1566, James Stuart inherited the Scottish throne when he was just thirteen months old, following the forced abdication of his mother, Mary, Queen of Scots. His early reign unfolded amid religious conflict, political intrigue, and struggles for control of the Scottish monarchy.

In 1603, following the death of Queen Elizabeth I of England, James inherited the English and Irish crowns, becoming James I of England while remaining James VI of Scotland. This historic event, known as the Union of the Crowns, placed England and Scotland under one monarch, although they remained separate kingdoms.

James championed the divine right of kings and sponsored the translation of the Bible that became known as the King James Version, published in 1611.

Historical Significance

  • James VI and I established the Stuart monarchy across England, Scotland, and Ireland, laying the dynastic foundations for the conflicts that would eventually give rise to Jacobitism.

    In the Collection

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