He was the first king of both Scotland and England (1/6)

As a direct relative of Elizabeth I, known popularly as the Virgin Queen for she took no husband nor gave birth to any children, James had ambitions to claim the English throne upon her death. And, with no competition to rival his claim, claim it he did, bringing into effect the Union of the Crowns on the 24th of March, 1603. This was the beginning of Scotland and England’s long, shared, and troubled history under an English monarchy.