JAMES I
1566 - 1625

As James VI, James was the king of Scotland from 1567 - 1625. As James I, he was king of England from 1603 - 1625. James preferred the title King of Great Britain.

James did well in Scotland, but not so well in England.


JAMES' FAMILY
James' father was Henry Stewart, Lord Darnley. His mother was Mary, Queen of Scots. Thus James became the first ruler of the Stuarts to rule over England.

In 1589, James married Anne, daughter of Frederick II of Denmark. Their sons were Henry, Charles, and Elizabeth.


JAMES' LIFE
The Scottish had enough of their queen Mary and forced her to abdicate in 1567. Wee James, just one year old, became king of Scotland. The Erskine brothers looked after him.

Later in life, James had to make up his mind whose side he wanted to take:

The ones in favor of the Roman Catholic faith,
an alliance with France, and his mother

OR

The ones in favor of the Protestant faith,
and an alliance with England.

What to do?
James himself was a Presbyterian. Another thought was that Elizabeth I of England was without an heir. Now, James' great-grandmother, Margaret Tudor, was Henry VIII's elder sister. It could work.

In 1586, James allied himself with the English.

In 1587, James' mother was executed by orders of Elizabeth I. James was cool as a cucumber.

In 1603, James followed Elizabeth I to the throne.

In 1604, James authorized a new Bible translation, the Authorized Version or the King James Version.

In 1605, James' spies discovered Guy Fawkes and his gunpowder plot.

In 1607, Jamestown was founded and in 1616 James met Pocahontas.

James's son Charles followed him to the throne as Charles I.