History Extra Podcast – The Many Faces of James VI & I (December 17, 2025)
Host: Eleanor Evans (History Extra)
Guest: Clare Jackson (Historian, author of The Mirror of Great Britain)

Episode Overview

This episode dives deep into the complex and often misunderstood legacy of King James VI of Scotland and I of England. Historian Clare Jackson, author of the new biography The Mirror of Great Britain, joins Eleanor Evans to unravel the multifaceted character of the monarch who united the crowns of England and Scotland. The conversation ranges from James’s reputation as a wordsmith and his lifelong navigation of personal and political peril, to his efforts at union, religious tensions, and the enduring symbols and myths woven into the Stuart era.

Key Discussion Points

1. James as a Wordsmith and First Modern Monarch (02:31–05:04)

• Innovative Language: James is credited as the first to use words such as "agitate," "decoration," "impostor," "preoccupied," and "quintessence" in print.
  Clare Jackson: “Those are words to which James is credited by the Oxford English Dictionary of being the first usage in print… James’s interest in just all forms of lexicography and work.” (02:58)
• Embrace of Print: Unusually prolific for his era, James published on poetry, politics, theology, and even tobacco, and monumentalized his works in a way no monarch had before.
  Quote: “No monarch really wanted to communicate with his subjects more than James. And sometimes both among contemporaries and historians, no monarch has actually also been more misunderstood.” (04:47–05:04)

2. The Refracted Reputation: Changing Images of James (05:04–10:46)

• Misunderstood Figure: His reputation has been bound up with the civil war and failures of his son, Charles I, leading to divisive and often negative historical narratives.
• Stereotypes and Prejudices: Persistent stereotypes regarding his physicality, relationships with male favorites, and his Scottish origins have long colored assessments of his reign. Quote: “One of the things I talk about in the book is that, you know, homophobia has certainly been a fact in James’s subsequent reception among historians. [...] Perhaps scotophobia is just as prevalent a factor in some of the treatments of James as homophobia.” (08:32–09:25)
• Uniqueness of Approach: Jackson’s biography aims to bridge the Scottish and English sides of his rule, treating the monarch as one continuous, complex figure.
  Quote: “I wanted to try and write something that tried to make sense of those two reigns that are often sort of seen as some kind of insuperable biographical hurdle.” (09:43)

3. Succession, Diplomacy, and Union (10:46–17:03)

• Uncertain Succession: James’s diplomatic maneuvering for Elizabeth I’s succession involved intricate European diplomacy, balancing Protestant and Catholic interests. Quote: “Elizabeth refuses steadfastly ever to confirm her successor. She actually makes it a capital, treasonable crime to even discuss who will succeed her.” (11:29)
• Dream of Union: The Union Jack, the notion of a United Britain, and new coinage and proclamations all stem from James’s vision—though largely stymied by English reluctance for actual union. Quote: “He seemed to assume that, that it would be very natural once his succession had happened, to then create a new country, to create a Great Britain. [...] For the English, it turns out that their crisis was what would happen after Elizabeth. [...] For the English, that's it. The crisis has passed. [...] But James [...] comes down assuming that this will be the start of negotiations.” (17:03–18:57)

4. Violence, Trauma, and Survival (22:06–24:27)

• A Life Marked by Danger: James’s early life was fraught with violence—his mother’s traumatic experiences, civil war, and repeated kidnapping attempts shaped his cautious, sometimes pacifist, attitudes. Quote: “He often tells the traumatic tale of his mother witnessing the very brutal, frenzied murder of her Italian personal secretary in Holyrood palace when she is six months pregnant with James [...] and James often talks about that trauma he experienced in utero.” (22:15)
• Pacifism as Courage: Jackson reframes James’s aversion to violence not as cowardice, but as evidence of “a very courageous tale of survival against recurrent threats.” (24:27)

5. Gunpowder Plot: James’s Personal Response and Propaganda (24:27–28:49)

• The Threat: The scale of the plot’s intended destruction—aimed at Parliament and James’s family—was immense.
• PR Campaign: James’s use of print and public ceremonies turned the thwarted plot into a propaganda opportunity, making his message widely known.
  Quote: “He also uses print, again, very characteristically, to ensure that as many people as possible know the danger in which he and his administration, and [...] the whole political establishment, have been placed." (26:40–27:08)
• Oath of Allegiance: Legislative changes followed, specifically to secure loyalty from Catholics.

6. Ireland and America—Colonial Consequences (29:35–33:44)

• Plantation of Ulster: James’s plans for peace and Protestant settlement in Ireland had traumatic, lasting consequences.
• Colonization of America: The Jamestown settlement and the naming of the James River highlight his indirect influence on American history. Quote: “By the end of James's reign, Virginia became the first Crown colony. [...] James himself said this would be something in which he would also take a very personal interest.” (33:14–33:44)

7. Enduring Myths and Popular Memory (33:44–35:25)

• Why Isn't James More Famous? Complicated history, the enduring legacies of Mary, Queen of Scots, and Elizabeth I, and persistent focus on his sexuality overshadow broader contributions.
• Drama and Reputation: Recent pop culture depictions (e.g., Mary & George) focus on his personal relationships, but Jackson cautions against defining James solely this way. Quote: “James himself says as much in one of his big arguments with one of his male favorites. You know, I cannot divorce the fact that I am king from this, no matter how much I speak to you as a private man.” (35:25)

8. The “Mirror of Great Britain” and Final Thoughts on Complexity (37:10–41:17)

• Symbolic Jewel: The real “Mirror of Great Britain” was a hat jewel, crafted from English and Scottish gems—mirroring James’s hopes for unity.
• Metaphor for a King: James loved the metaphor of the mirror, offering subjects “a mirror of his soul” while also being a skilled dissembler. Quote: “Mirrors inevitably sort of distort and deceive. So it is one of the sort of more metaphorical themes, as well as being a piece of jewellery that was then also quite symbolically broken up during the Civil wars and destroyed, so no longer survives.” (37:29–38:45)
• Biographical Challenges: James’s misogyny and other less sympathetic traits are discussed with nuance; Jackson emphasizes trying to understand, not excuse, the past. Quote: “I've also been quite clear that James is essentially a misogynist. [...] Part of any historian's job is to try to understand the past, to try and understand where that's coming from and not really to sort of take a position.” (39:09)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “No monarch really wanted to communicate with his subjects more than James. And sometimes both among contemporaries and historians, no monarch has actually also been more misunderstood.” – Clare Jackson (04:47)
• “He seemed to assume that, that it would be very natural once his succession had happened, to then create a new country, to create a Great Britain.” – Clare Jackson (17:13)
• “The whole of his life is one very courageous tale of survival against recurrent threats.” – Clare Jackson (24:27)
• “I cannot divorce the fact that I am king from this, no matter how much I speak to you as a private man.” – Clare Jackson, quoting James I (35:25)

Timestamps of Key Segments

• 02:31 – Discussion on James as a wordsmith and his print legacy
• 05:33 – Shifting reputation: stereotypes, bias, and historical approaches
• 11:29 – James’s diplomatic maneuvering before and after 1603
• 17:03 – The Union Jack, unions, and James’s quest for a new Britain
• 22:06 – Violence, early trauma, and surviving as a young king
• 24:43 – The Gunpowder Plot—James’s reaction and PR victory
• 29:35 – Ireland and the Plantation; beginnings of English America
• 33:44 – James’s diminished place in popular memory
• 35:25 – Sexuality, favorites, and the challenge of biographical focus
• 37:29 – The metaphor and significance of The Mirror of Great Britain
• 39:09 – Biographical challenges and James’s view on women

Tone and Style

The conversation is rich, reflective, and scholarly but accessible, weaving rigorous argument with personal insight and thematic breadth. Clare Jackson’s tone is empathetic, candid, and deeply knowledgeable, aiming to humanize James without shying away from his flaws. Eleanor Evans guides the discussion thoughtfully, often connecting historical themes to contemporary relevance.

Recommended For:
Listeners interested in Tudor-Stuart history, early modern monarchy, historical biography, the origins of the United Kingdom, and the interplay of personal and political legacies in shaping European history.

Further Reading:
Clare Jackson, The Mirror of Great Britain: A Life of James VI and I