James's character, court and favourites

Question 1

What was James personality like (describe)

Answer 1

-experienced monarch
-pragmatic
-‘wisest fool in christendom’
-drunken
-intellectual
-Calvinist
- outgoing man who enjoyed debate and dealing with
people
-good father and affectionate

Question 2

What was his views on the monarchy?

Answer 2

-firm believer in the Divine Right of Kings and
defensive of their prerogative
-James had written about the art and theory of kingship
-James saw himself as
the ‘peacemaker king’ in his foreign policy— rex pacificus
-recognises the importance of dynasty
-chain of being

Question 3

How is the court related to the personality of the king?

Answer 3

-it acts as the physical manifestation of the character and kingship of the monarch
-their personality determines what their court is like

Question 4

What was the court?

Answer 4

-an extension of the royal household
-they would offer advice to the king on all matters
-those with the greatest access to the king would have the greatest political influence
-the monarch was at the epicentre of the court

Question 5

What was the issue of factions in the court?

Answer 5

-landlords would fight for influence at court
-the king would need to ensure that power was evenly distributed between the factions but varied at times so the factions would compete with themselves rather than rebelling against the king

Question 6

What was the significance of the court?

Answer 6

-it was a way for the monarch to secure allegiances and cooperation from landlords
-this is done by distributing patronage
-the court acts as a way for the king to access the landowners and gain their cooperation
-the court maintained the illusion that landowners could become dukes/promoted to this maintained their loyalty to the crown

Question 7

What was James court like?

Answer 7

• open and lively place that reflected the king’s enjoyment of life
  -criticised as drunken, immoral and debauched
  -early dominance of the
  Bedchamber by Scots

Question 8

Who was James’s favourites?

Answer 8

-Robert Carr, Earl of Somerset (1607–13)
-George Villiers, Duke of Buckingham (1615–25)
-Villiers was a major source of political tension in the years 1618 to 1628.
-Villiers had a drastic ascent which upset the nobility as they don’t like social mobility
Both acted as gentlemen of the bedchambers