James I
United Kingdom King
Who is James I?
James I was the king of Scotland (as James IV) from the House of Stuart. He was crowned king of Scotland when he was just thirteen months old. Since he was so young, four people ruled and tutored James. Those people were George Buchanan, Peter Young, Adam Erskine, and David Erskinefor. They served until he became 12 years old in 1578. In 1581 he achieved complete control of Scotland.
When his cousin Elizabeth I (House of Tudor) died childless, James became the rightful successor of the throne because of his great-great-grandfather Henry VII, King of England and Lord of Ireland. When he assumed the throne it was the first time that there was the United Kingdom. He ruled from 1567 until his death in 1625. James died when he was 58 years of age on 27 March. The reason for his death is argued between a stroke or during an attack at Theobalds House.
James the first was a Catholic due to Matthew Steward's influence. He was Jame's grandfather, he was also the leader of Catholic nobility in Scotland.
James strongly supported the idea of an absolute monarchy. He also believed in the Divine Rights of Kings, a belief where the authority of kings comes from God. Because of that, he did not like to work with parliament. Parliament is the legislature of England that you needed to ask them for new taxes. James collected taxes without asking the parliament. James also argued over money and foreign wars. He was extremely religious as well.
James' personality and appearance
James' physical appearance was well commented in England when he became king. He was tall, broad-shouldered, he had spindly legs. People comment: '“(His tongue) was too large for his mouth, whichever made him speak full of mouth, and made him drink very uncomely as if eating his drink, which came out into the cup of each side of his mouth.”. James' dinner conversation was led by vulgarity and jokes. "he usually ended his thoughts with some comment that bordered on blasphemous.". James was a breath of fresh air after Elizabeth's reign. James never got intoxicated during any of the gatherings.
During a gathering with senior church figures they had this dialogue:
'“with my body, I thee worship” being in the wedding service.' - Senior.
'“Many a man speaks of Robin Hood who never shot in his bow...I give not a turd for your preaching." - James.
James I's family and relationships
James I's mother is the famous Mary, Queen of Scots, and her second husband Henry Stuart or more known as Lord Darnley. James is their only son. After James was born his father died murdered in an explosion and his mother remarried with James Hepburn and she was forced to abdicate the throne because of rebels Scottish. Mary and James (Son) never saw each other again.
James I married Anne the daughter of Frederick II. of Denmark and Norway.
James I and Anne had five children, only three survived until adulthood. Henry, Elizabeth, and Charles. Charles I is the one who takes the throne after James I death.
James I was known to be very social. Although kings at that time had a big family they also had a mistress, which at that time was a type of "title". James I's mistress was Anne Murray. Other rumors as well were that Esmé Stewart (Duke of Lennox), Robert Carr (Earl of Somerset), and George Villiers (Duke of Buckingham) were James I's lovers.
Interests/Hobbies
James was very interested in writing, he published multiple pamphlets and books, and most o them were about witchcraft, one of them being Daemonologies (published in 1597). Daemonologies is about all types of fiction like Werewolves, vampires, and demons. Witchcraft and ancient dark magic were other things he was interested in and did multiple kinds of research about it. And because he was fascinated with such things caused a couple of hundred women to die because of it. James was also not a fan of Tabacco, and due to that, his pamphlet was one of the first anti-tobacco pamphlets to be created.
James and his wife Anne adored masque balls. They liked them so much that when they succeded the throne they wanted to create a venue just for them and be performed at Whitehall Palace.
Another thing is that James had lions and in his house, he had a den and refurbished it every time that there were visitors there for his enjoyment. He was the last monarch to actually stay in a fortress and watch animal cruelty there.
Contributions
Although James' kingdoms did not have a great impact economically they also did not have any wars or battles, his reign is was a period of peace not just inside the kingdoms but outside as well. He ended the period of wars caused by Elizabeth. One example is that he brought to an end a Spanish war and tried to end the rivalry between the two kingdoms with a peace treaty. And because of his peaceful rule, all his accomplishments were made at peace, opposite to Elizabeth.
Even though people did not have a lot of uninterrupted lives people said that James was a success in Scotland and a complete failure in England, others thought that he was favorable to both England and Scotland. Also, King James did not raise taxation he lowered them and that made countrymen like him.
Other facts that historians found out are that William Shakespeare, John Donne, Ben Jonson, and Sir. Francis Bacon were in James' court. He also was part of the art and literary group, named Scottish Jacobean court poets. James also promoted a literature movement in Scotland, and that made Scotland more present during the Renaissance.
Sources
1.)J. Bain, Calendar of letters and papers relating to the affairs of the borders of England and Scotland, vol. 2 (Edinburgh, 1894), pp. 30–31, 44.
2.)e.g. Young, Michael B. (2000), King James and the History of Homosexuality, New York University Press, ISBN 978-0-8147-9693-1; Bergeron, David M. (1991), Royal Family, Royal Lovers: King James of En
3.)Murphy, Timothy (2011), Reader's Guide To Gay & Lesbian Studies, Routledge Dearborn Publishers, p. 312.
4.)Guy 2004, pp. 236–237, 241–242, 270; Willson 1963, p. 13.
5.)Willson 1963, p. 19.
6. Croft, Pauline (2003), King James, Basingstoke and New York: Palgrave Macmillan, ISBN 978-0-333-61395-5
© By Anelise Lima
