The Union of the Crowns

24th March 1603

Simbolo dell'union tra Scozie e Inghilterra con ritratto di James I.

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 himselfKing 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.

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Author: Tony

Born and raised in Malaysia between Kuala Lumpur and Singapore. Educated at Wycliffe College in Stonehouse, Gloucestershire, England. Living in the foothills of Mount Etna since 1982 and teaching English at Catania University since 1987.

7 thoughts on “The Union of the Crowns”

        1. 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.

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