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James I

A Dictionary of World History | Date: 2000

James I (1566–1625) King James VI of Scotland from 1567, King of England (1603–25). He succeeded ELIZABETH I of England, since she had never married and the TUDOR dynasty was ended. He was the son of MARY, Queen of Scots and Henry, Lord DARNLEY. As King of Scotland he survived several plots and assassination attempts, while he strengthened the power of the crown over Parliament, Kirk (Church of Scotland), and sectarian religious groups, and fostered good relations with England. As King of England, he lacked the shrewd judgement of his predecessor, his reign being marked by several errors of policy. He angered the Puritans by refusing to hear their demands at the HAMPTON COURT CONFERENCE and by his insistence on the maxim ‘no bishop, no king’ to counter their demands for the abolition of bishops, which put an end to their hopes of reform. His court was tainted by sexual and financial scandal and although CECIL attempted reform, the king's promotion of BUCKINGHAM from 1618 led him into costly and extravagant schemes that alienated Parliament. Although learned, he was tactless in his handling of Parliament, insisting repeatedly on his prerogatives as king. However the unsettled financial and religious position was his legacy from Elizabeth and it was an achievement that his reign was largely peaceful.


© A Dictionary of World History 2000, originally published by Oxford University Press 2000.