Portrait of James I, Pre-Raphaelitism, Fresco Painting
1. Born on June 19, 1566, as James Stuart, he became the King of Scotland at just one year old when his mother, Mary Queen of Scots, was forced to abdicate.
- He became the first monarch of a united Great Britain on March 24, 1603 after Elizabeth I died without an heir, and he inherited the English throne. His reign is known as “The Jacobean era”.
- James I was well-educated and a prolific writer, with works including “The True Law of Free Monarchies” and “Basilikon Doron,” which discussed his vision for monarchy and gave advice to kings and princes.
He had a strong interest in witches and authored several treatises on the subject, like “Daemonologie.” In 1597, he enacted the first anti-witchcraft law in Scotland.
His reign was marked by conflicts with Parliament over matters of governance and religious policy, which later culminated in the Gunpowder Plot in 1605.
James I’s royal court was known for its patronage of the arts and intellectuals such as William Shakespeare and Ben Jonson.
His rule also saw significant growth in the British East India Company, with England gaining control over key spice trade routes to Asia.
Text model: dolphin-mistral
Image model: CopaxTimeLessXL
