King James VI: Little-Known Facts About the Author of the King James Bible

James the infant king

King James VI is widely known for the Bible translation that bears his name. The KJV is the most widely used of all versions of the holy scriptures. Who was this man who continues to be a controversial figure today?

He was born on June 19, 1566, in Edinburgh, Scotland, to Mary, Queen of Scots, and Henry Stuart, Lord Darnley. In 1567, he became James VI, King of Scotland, at the age of 13 months old, after his mother was forced to abdicate.

James became King of England and Ireland in 1603, after Elizabeth I died. He united the crowns of Scotland and England, which began the Stuart dynasty.

In 1604, he wrote A Counterblaste to Tobacco, stating that the product was “a custom loathsome to the eye, hateful to the nose, harmful to the brain.” In that same year, he authorized the King James Bible, which was completed seven years later in 1611.

The kidnapping of a child prodigy

He was a child prodigy, highly educated, and could read Latin, Greek, and French fluently. By his teens, he was debating theology with scholars. King James VI was considered one of the most intellectually trained monarchs of his time.

In 1582, a political coup was attempted when a group of Protestant nobles kidnapped James VI during the Ruthven Raid. Their goal was to control the government in his name. He was held captive for close to a year before being released and regaining authority.

Divine right and witchcraft

The King strongly believed in the “Divine Right of Kings” and that they answered only to God, who he believed put them on their thrones. He also held strong views on witchcraft, which led to witch trials increasing in England and Scotland during his reign.

He supported the persecution of witches and wrote books on the subject, like Daemonologie. He believed witches had tried to kill him by conjuring storms at sea, and he personally examined accused witches during the North Berwick witch trials.

Rumors and a quest for power

King James married Anne of Denmark and had seven children, but rumors that he was homosexual persisted. He is considered by some to be a hypocrite because of the scriptures that say men should not lie with men.

Some scholars today say this view of the king is incorrect. They assert that there is no credible evidence that James VI had a same sex relationship and that he only enjoyed the platonic company of young men.

King James wanted to unite England and Scotland into one country called “Great Britain” and even referred to himself as the “King of Great Britain.” Parliament, however, resisted this union during his lifetime.

King James VI died on March 27, 1625, and was buried in Westminster Abbey. His son, Charles I of England, was later crowned king but was eventually executed after the English Civil War.

🎭 6. Patron of Shakespeare

During his reign, William Shakespeare and his acting company became known as The King's Men, enjoying royal patronage.

Shakespeare even wrote Macbeth, which reflects James’s interest in witchcraft and Scottish history.

💰 7. He Was Financially Reckless

James loved luxury and gave expensive gifts to favorites at court. His spending caused serious financial strain and tension with Parliament.

🕊 8. He Avoided War

Unlike many monarchs of the time, James preferred peace. He ended England’s long war with Spain in 1604 and tried to avoid costly European conflicts.

👑 9. He Survived Multiple Plots

The famous Gunpowder Plot wasn’t the only conspiracy against him—there were several Catholic and political plots during his reign.