The reign of James VI and I

Aims 

This course aims to:  

• examine James VI and I’s life and career in the context of his times  
   
• explore James’s personality, beliefs and motives through a range of primary sources  
   
• assess James’s achievements and legacy 

Content 

This course will examine the personality and career of James VI and I, beginning with his rule over Scotland and then turning to his reign as King of Great Britain after 1603. Labelled ‘the wisest fool in Christendom’, and long regarded as one of England’s less successful rulers, more recently James has been effectively rehabilitated by ‘revisionist’ historians who argue that he was a highly intelligent and politically astute monarch. This course will examine his life and career in a series of chronological segments, exploring his formative years in Scotland, his constitutional and religious beliefs, his relationship with Parliaments, his role as Supreme Governor of the Church of England, and his foreign policy. Particular attention will be paid to the nature and significance of James’s character, attitudes, and beliefs. Throughout the classes, there will be extensive reference to primary sources, and each class will be accompanied by a hand-out of extracts from documents.  

Presentation of the course  

The sessions will take the form of direct instruction, accompanied by extensive hand-outs in the form of extracts from primary sources.  There will be some time for questions and discussion in each session.  

Course sessions 

1. Introduction: background and debates 
   This session will examine the historiographical controversies that surround James and his kingship. It will examine the fluctuations in his historical reputation, including recent attempts to rehabilitate him, and consider why he has proved such a contentious figure.
    
2. James as King of Scotland to 1603 
   This session will look at James’s rule as King of Scotland from his accession to the throne at the age of one in 1567 down to his becoming King of England as well aged 36 in 1603. We  
   will examine his challenging experiences and notable achievements during these years  
   ruling Scotland. 
    
3. Early years in England, 1603-1610 
   This session will focus on James’s early years as King of England, Wales and Ireland as well as Scotland. We will look at his attempts to unite the kingdoms of England and Scotland and to become King of Great Britain, and at the various problems that he faced during this period, especially regarding his finances.  
    
4. Factions and personalities, 1610-1617 
   This session will examine the middle years of James’s reign in England. We will look especially at the factional politics and the Court scandals of these years, and at the continuing tensions that beset James’s relationships with his Parliaments.   
    
5. James’s final years, 1617-1625 
   The final session will consider James’s last years. We will look at the rise of his unpopular favourite George Villiers, Duke of Buckingham, and at James’s uneven relations with his last two Parliaments, in 1621 and 1624. The session will end with a concluding assessment of his life and reign. 

Learning outcomes 

You are expected to gain from this series of classroom sessions a greater understanding of the subject and of the core issues and arguments central to the course.  

The learning outcomes for this course are: 

• to have gained a deeper awareness of James VI and I’s personality, beliefs and motives  
   
• to have gained an understanding of his life and career in the context of his times  
   
• to have evaluated his achievements and legacy 

Required reading 

 Kenyon, John, The Stuarts (London: Fontana Books 1966) ISBN 0006329527 

 Smith, David, A History of the Modern British Isles, 1603-1707: The Double Crown (Oxford: Basil Blackwell 1998) ISBN 0631194029 

Typical week: Monday to Friday 

Courses run from Monday to Friday. For each week of study, you select a morning (Am) course and an afternoon (Pm) course. The maximum class size is 25 students.   

Courses are complemented by a series of daily plenary lectures, exploring new ideas in a wide range of disciplines. To add to your learning experience, we are also planning additional evening talks and events. 

Evaluation and Academic Credit  

If you are seeking to enhance your own study experience, or earn academic credit from your Cambridge Summer Programme studies at your home institution, you can submit written work for assessment for one or more of your courses.  

Essay questions are set and assessed against the University of Cambridge standard by your Course Director, a list of essay questions can be found in the Course Materials. Essays are submitted two weeks after the end of each course, so those studying for multiple weeks need to plan their time accordingly. There is an evaluation fee of £75 per essay. 

For more information about writing essays see Evaluation and Academic Credit. 

Certificate of attendance 

A certificate of attendance will be sent to you electronically after the programme.