Overview

By drawing upon recent scholarship, original manuscript materials, and previously unpublished sources, this new biography presents an analytical narrative of King James VI & I’s life from his birth in 1566 to his accession to the throne of England and Ireland in 1603. The only son of Mary Stuart and heir (apparent but not uncontested) to Elizabeth I, James VI of Scotland was, from the moment of his birth, a focal point of countervailing hopes and fears for the confessional and dynastic future of the kingdoms of the British Isles. This study examines material from across the UK and beyond, as well as the newly deciphered letters of Mary, Queen of Scots, to reveal James as a highly capable, resourceful, deeply provocative and ruthless political actor. Analysis of James’s own writings is integrated within the narrative, providing fresh insights into the king’s inventive tactical engagement in the politics of publicity. Through a chronological approach, the events of his life are linked to wider issues associated with the early modern court, government, religion, and political and ideological conflict. James VI, Britannic Prince is of interest to all scholars of Scottish and British history in the late sixteenth and early seventeenth centuries.

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9781138606265

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Reviews

'This book offers a splendid new account of King James VI’s life from his birth in 1566 down to his accession to the English throne in1603. It is beautifully written, persuasively argued, and deeply researched in primary sources. Alexander Courtney’s picture of James’s personality and Scottish kingship is entirely coherent and consistently original. Courtney draws on much new material that has previously been neglected by historians, and as a result his book presents what is by far the most detailed and compelling treatment of James VI’s Scottish rule that has yet been published.' David L. Smith, University of Cambridge, UK 'This remarkable book is a gripping account of a child-monarch becoming a man in a profoundly dysfunctional kingdom and preparing to become king of the whole of Great Britain and Ireland. Based on deeply impressive research, this a story that is told – and very, very vividly told – with flair, and it changes large parts of the long-established narrative. This is a major contribution not only to Scottish and British History but to our understanding of the geopolitics of Europe in an age of turmoil.' John Morrill, University of Cambridge, UK

Author Information

Alexander Courtney, Associate Fellow of the Royal Historical Society, is an independent scholar. His research has explored several aspects of the kingship of James VI & I. He is Assistant Head (Teaching and Learning) at The Perse School, Cambridge, UK.

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