King James VI and the Union of the Crowns

James was born to Mary, Queen of Scots and Henry, Lord Darnley on 19 June 1566. He was crowned King of Scotland when he was only 13 months old following his mother's abdication. When Queen Elizabeth I died on 24 March 1603, James succeeded to the English crown and was proclaimed king. He left for England on 4 April and was crowned at Westminster Abbey on 11 July.

King James ruled both Scotland and England, but each country retained its own parliament, church, laws and coinage. After 1603, he only returned to Scotland once, in 1617. He died on 27 March 1625 and was succeeded by his son Charles I.

The following sources from the National Records of Scotland have been selected to illustrate key points in the reign of King James VI and I, and provide a flavour of the style and appearance of primary source material from the 16th and 17th centuries.

Link to a timeline for the reign of King James VI and I.

Scottish royal family tree, 1792

An eighteenth century family tree showing the connections between the kings and queens of Scotland from King Fergus I to King George III.

Account for Fireworks at Stirling Castle, 1566

A page from the accounts of the royal household for the fireworks at Stirling Castle which formed part of the celebrations at James' baptism.

Letter from King James VI to Lady Minny, c.1572

The earliest surviving letter written by King James VI to Lady Annabella, Countess of Mar, when James was about six years old.

Seventeenth century Scotland

Two maps illustrating the nature of Scotland in the 17th century.

Proclamation by King James, 1603

A printed proclamation issued by King James VI to organise his progress from Scotland to England in 1603.

The Great Seal of King James VI

Images and a description of the Great Seal of King James VI of Scotland, used until 1603.

The Great Seal of King James VI and I

Images and a description of the Great Seal of James, King of Great Britain and Ireland, used after 1603.