History Extra podcast The rise of James VI & I: when Britain went global
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Apr 29, 2025 In this engaging conversation, Professor Anna Whitelock, an expert on James VI & I and author of 'The Sun Rising', sheds light on the transformative Jacobean era. She discusses how Elizabeth I's reign may have stifled England's global ambitions, and how James's accession marked a pivotal shift towards unification and expansion. Whitelock elaborates on James’s vision for peace across Europe through diplomatic alliances, his role in fostering maritime ambitions, and the implications of Britain's burgeoning trade and colonization strategies during this dynamic period.
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Elizabeth's Succession Negligence
- Elizabeth I avoided naming an heir to keep attention away from succession and her aging.
- This negligence risked civil war but ultimately led to a smooth succession to James I.
James I Unites Old Enemies
- James I's ascension united England and Scotland under one monarch despite ancient enmity.
- He aimed for union and peace, seeing the two nations as geographically and politically bound.
English Resistance to Union
- English Parliament resisted union with Scotland, fearing inferiority and job competition from Scots.
- James proclaimed himself King of Great Britain, but union was mostly nominal due to English opposition.
