James VI and I: The King Who United the Crowns

The episode traces how James VI of Scotland became James I of England, examining his divine‑right ideology, religious compromises and constitutional experiments that kept Scotland, England and Ireland separate under one monarch while sowing seeds for later conflict. It looks at surviving chronicles, parliamentary debates and royal correspondence to tease out what James really did – from the Hampton Court Conference to ship money, to early colonial ventures – and why modern narratives may overstate or understated his influence. The episode situates him within broader shifts: financial strain, religious tension and emerging constitutional limits that would eventually challenge the very idea of a single united Britain. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices