The World of King James VI & I

This film looks at the life and legacy of King James VI & I, examining some of the distinctive features of his character and reign. Traditional histories of James’s reign have not been kind to him, he was often portrayed as a superstitious and weak King, heavily dependent on his favourites, enjoying and indulgent and costly lifestyle. In this film we delve into his life, and also consider how James has been portrayed on screen for modern audiences. The image of King James that persists today has its roots in the seventeenth century, but in recent years James’s life has enjoyed critical re-examination by historians of the period, and reveals a scholarly, peace-loving and considered man whose formative years had a profound impact on his ambitions and style of rule. This film was created to complement our exhibition 'The World of King James VI & I' which was on at the Scottish National Portrait Gallery from Sat 26 Apr 2025 - Sun 14 Sep 2025. Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nationalgalleriesscot/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nationalgalleriesscot TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@nationalgalleriesscot