James I of England

James VI of Scots and James I of England and Ireland (Charles James) (19 June 1566–27 March 1625) ruled England, Scotland, Wales and Ireland. He ruled in Scotland as James VI from 24 July 1567 until his death, and in England and Ireland as James I from 24 March 1603 until his death. He was the first English monarch of the Stuart dynasty, succeeding the last Tudor monarch, Elizabeth I, who died without children.

Early life

James was the eldest son of Mary I, Queen of Scots and of her second husband, Henry Stuart, Duke of Albany, more commonly known as Lord Darnley. James was a direct descendant of Henry VII, through his great-grandmother Margaret Tudor, sister of Henry VIII. James' mother was an insecure ruler, as both she and her husband, being Roman Catholics, faced a rebellion of Protestant noblemen. Their marriage, furthermore, was a particularly difficult one. While Mary was pregnant with James, Lord Darnley secretly allied himself with the rebels and murdered the Queen's private secretary, David Rizzio.

Related Topics:
Mary I, Queen of Scots - Henry Stuart, Duke of Albany - Henry VII - Margaret Tudor - Henry VIII - Roman Catholics - Protestant - Pregnant - Murder - David Rizzio

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James was born on 19 June 1566 at Edinburgh Castle, and automatically became Duke of Rothesay and Prince and Great Steward of Scotland, for he was the eldest son of the monarch and thus the heir-apparent. He received the name Charles James, the first name in honour of his godfather Charles IX of France, thus becoming the first future British monarch to have more than one forename. James' father was murdered on 10 February 1567 at Kirk o' Field, most likely to avenge Rizzio's death. Mary's marriage on 15 May of the same year to James Hepburn, 4th Earl of Bothwell, who was widely suspected of murdering the Duke of Albany, made her even more unpopular. In June 1567, the Protestant rebels arrested Mary and imprisoned her in Loch Leven Castle. Mary was forced to abdicate the throne on 24 July, giving it to James, then only thirteen months old.

Related Topics:
19 June - 1566 - Edinburgh Castle - Duke of Rothesay - Prince and Great Steward of Scotland - Charles IX of France - 10 February - 1567 - Kirk o' Field - James Hepburn, 4th Earl of Bothwell - Loch Leven Castle - Abdicate - 24 July

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