A GUIDE TO COLLECTING MAPS

OF THE BRITISH ISLES

King James I was born on June 19, 1566, in Edinburgh Castle, Scotland. Before becoming King of England, he was James VI of Scotland, ascending to the Scottish throne at just 13 months old after his mother, Mary, Queen of Scots, was forced to abdicate.

James became King of England and Ireland as James I on March 24, 1603, following the death of Queen Elizabeth I. This made him the first monarch to rule both England and Scotland, and his reign was known as the Jacobean era. One of the most significant events of his reign was the Gunpowder Plot of 1605, a failed assassination attempt by a group of English Catholics who planned to blow up the House of Lords during the State Opening of Parliament.

James is perhaps best known for commissioning the King James Bible, a translation of the bible into English that was completed in 1611. This version of the Bible remains one of the most popular and widely used in the English-speaking world. James's reign was also marked by a belief in the divine right of kings, which led to conflicts with Parliament. He died on March 27, 1625, and was succeeded by his son, Charles I.

King Charles I was born on November 19, 1600, in Dunfermline, Scotland. He became king of England, Scotland, and Ireland in 1625, succeeding his father, King James I.

Charles I's reign was marked by conflict with Parliament. He believed in the divine right of kings, which led to disputes over issues like taxation and religious reforms. His attempts to impose reforms and raise taxes without Parliament's consent led to the Petition of Right in 1628, which sought to limit the king's power. The disagreements with Parliament eventually escalated into the English Civil War in 1642. The war was fought between the supporters of the king, known as Cavaliers or Royalists, and those supporting Parliament, known as Roundheads or Parliamentarians.

The war ended in 1646 with a victory for the Parliamentarians. Charles was captured, tried for treason, and executed on January 30, 1649. His death marked the end of the monarchy, and England became a Commonwealth under the leadership of Oliver Cromwell.

Charles I's execution was a significant event in British history as it was the first and only time a reigning monarch had been tried and executed by their own people. The monarchy was restored in 1660, and Charles's son, Charles II, became king.

Oliver Cromwell was born on April 25, 1599, in Huntingdon, England. He came from a middle-class background and was relatively unknown until his 40s. Cromwell became involved in national affairs when he was elected Member of Parliament for Huntingdon in the English Parliament in 1628. He was a devout Puritan and strongly opposed the policies of King Charles I, particularly those related to religious freedom.

When the English Civil War broke out in 1642, Cromwell raised a cavalry troop and joined the Parliamentary forces fighting against the king. He proved to be an effective military leader and played a key role in the defeat of the Royalists.

Following the war, Cromwell was one of the signatories on King Charles I's death warrant, leading to the king's execution in 1649. England then became a republic known as the Commonwealth, and Cromwell became its leader, taking the title Lord Protector in 1653. Cromwell's rule was marked by strict Puritan morality and significant military and political reforms. However, his suppression of the Irish and Scottish populations has been widely criticized.

Cromwell died on September 3, 1658. His son, Richard, succeeded him as Lord Protector, but the Commonwealth collapsed in 1660, and the monarchy was restored with King Charles II.