Profile of the Day: James VI of Scotland

James VI of Scotland

On this day in 1603, James VI of Scotland was crowned king of England, bringing the Kingdom of England and the Kingdom of Scotland into a personal union.

James VI was born on June 19, 1577 in Edinburgh Castle, Scotland. He was the son of Mary, Queen of Scots, and a second great grandson of Henry VII. At just 13 months, he succeeded to the Scottish throne after his mother was compelled to abdicate in favor of her young son. His mother’s reign had been plagued with scandal since the murder of his father, Henry Stuart. Only months after his death, Mary had married James Hepburn, 4th Early of Bothwell, who was widely suspected of committing the crime.

Elizabeth I was the last of Henry VIII’s descendants and James’s first cousin twice removed. Unmarried and childless, Elizabeth took steps in the last years of her life to prepare for James’s eventual succession. After her death in 1603, James VI ascended to the throne and ruled as King James I of England.

How are you related to James VI of Scotland? Explore his family tree to discover how you’re related to royalty.
 

View James VI of Scotland’s Geni Profile

Image: Wikimedia Commons