100 Heroes: James VI and I

James Charles Stuart – who became James VI and I – was King of Scotland as James VI from 24 July 1567. He was also King of England and Ireland as James I from the union of the Scottish and English crowns in 1603 until his death in 1625.

The kingdoms of Scotland and England were individual sovereign states, with their own parliaments, judiciaries, and laws, though both were ruled by James in personal union.

James was the son of Mary, Queen of Scots, and a great-great-grandson of Henry VII, King of England and Lord of Ireland, positioning him to eventually accede to all three thrones.

James succeeded to the Scottish throne at the age of thirteen months, after his mother was compelled to abdicate in his favour. Four different regents governed during his minority, which ended officially in 1578, though he did not gain full control of his government until 1583.

In 1603, James succeeded the last Tudor monarch of England and Ireland, Elizabeth I, who died childless.

He continued to reign in all three kingdoms for 22 years, until his death.

The period of his reign became known as the Jacobean era.

During his reign, the Plantation of Ulster and British colonisation of the Americas began.

At 57 years and 246 days, James’s reign in Scotland was the longest of any Scottish monarch. He achieved most of his aims in Scotland but faced great difficulties in England, including the Gunpowder Plot in 1605 and repeated conflicts with the English Parliament.

Early Life

Born in 1566, James was the only son of Mary, Queen of Scots. The father of James was Henry Stuart, Lord Darnley - the second husband of Mary.

Both Mary and Darnley were great-grandchildren of Henry VII of England through Margaret Tudor, the older sister of Henry VIII.

Mary’s rule over Scotland was insecure. Because she and her husband were both Roman Catholics, she faced the constant threat of rebellion by Protestant noblemen.

James was born in 1566 at Edinburgh Castle. As the eldest son and heir apparent of the monarch, he automatically became Duke of Rothesay and Prince and Great Steward of Scotland. His godparents were Charles IX of France, Elizabeth I of England, and Emmanuel Philibert, Duke of Savoy.

James’s father, Darnley, was murdered in 1567 at Kirk o’ Field, Edinburgh.

After the death of his father, James inherited the titles of Duke of Albany and Earl of Ross.

Mary was already unpopular but dissent increased when she married James Hepburn in 1567 - Hepburn was widely suspected of having murdered Darnley. This trigged a rebellion by the Protestant nobles which forced Mary to abdicate and hand the throne to her son, James - then aged only 13 months.

As he was still an infant, the care of James was entrusted to a series of regents who ensured that James was raised as a protestant.

The men

By the age of 15, James was already using his favouritism to shape the court around him.

One of the first to get his attention was the Frenchman Esmé Stewart, Sieur d’Aubigny - became the Earl of Lennox. Lennox was a cousin of James's father. The relationship between Lennox and James was described at the time as being defined by "carnal lust".

In 1589, James married Anne of Denmark and the couple had three children. However it was men that James was primarily interested in.

As well as Lennox, significant lovers included Robert Carr and George Villiers.