On this day, the English and Scottish crowns were united for the first time when King James VI of Scotland [1567-1625] became King James I of England and Ireland on the death of his cousin Queen Elizabeth I, the last Tudor monarch. After the Union of the Crowns, James based himself in England and styled himself “King of Great Britain and Ireland“. Although he tried hard to establish a closer political union, the kingdoms of Scotland and England remained sovereign states, with their own parliaments, judiciaries, and laws. In Scotland, James achieved his aims, but he faced great difficulties in England, including the Gunpowder Plot in 1605 and conflicts with the English Parliament. During his reign, the Golden Age of Elizabethan literature and drama continued, with writers such as William Shakespeare, John Donne, and Francis Bacon contributing to a flourishing literary culture.
What about the Union Jack ?
That came later, Carla.
Officially, perhaps, but the name is his.
The “Union Jack” as it looks today was not devised until 1801 and the “Jack” part of the name is believed to come from the maritime tradition. A “jack” was a small flag flown from the bow of a ship, and when the Union Flag was used in this context, it became known as the Union Jack.
Good to remember that 5th of November
This is the second article in a few days where ‘bloody murder of crowns’ really fits.
Guys and gals, did you subscribe to the Ingliando chatroom on Telegram? Like I said, it’s the only way to really get what that saying means..
PRESS THIS LINK AND HAVE FUN
I think people are afraid of all the crowns in the chatroom, Paolo!