James VI and I

James Charles Stuart, known as James VI and I, was a monarch who ruled Scotland as James VI from 24 July 1567 and England and Ireland as James I from 24 March 1603 until his death in 1625. Born to Mary, Queen of Scots, and Henry Stuart, Lord Darnley, he was a great-great-grandson of Henry VII. James ascended to the Scottish throne at the tender age of thirteen months after his mother's forced abdication. His early rule was overseen by regents until he took full control in 1583. He married Anne of Denmark in 1589, and they had three children who reached adulthood: Henry Frederick, Elizabeth, and Charles. Succeeding the childless Elizabeth I in 1603, he presided over the Jacobean era and advocated for a unified parliament for England and Scotland. He returned to Scotland only once after relocating to England post-1603.

His reign witnessed the continuation of the Elizabethan literary boom, with figures like Shakespeare and Donne. James was an accomplished author, penning significant works and sponsoring the King James Bible translation. Despite facing challenges such as the Gunpowder Plot and conflicts with the English Parliament, he pursued a peace policy and tried to steer clear of the religious wars ravaging Europe. He was succeeded by his second son, Charles I, after a reign marked by efforts to unite his kingdoms and foster cultural and intellectual growth.