Unionist concept in the first years of James I rule

About the author:

Sergey V. Kondratiev, Dr. Sci. (Hist.), Professor, Department of History and World Politics, University of Tyumen; skondratiev@utmn.ru; ORCID: 0000-0002-9861-5032

Abstract:

The article considers the basic aspects of the unionist idea which became relevant after James I (1603-1625) succeeded to the English crown. James I declared immediately that he intended to transform the union of the crowns to the union of the kingdoms. James saw himself as the head of a new empire and the founder of a new nation. The accession medal proclaimed James the Imperator (Emperor) of Britain, the coronation medal hailed him “Caesar Augustus of Great Britain”. In 1606 the common flag was established that was the famous Union Jack. Despite the Parliament of England dragging out the Union and the common commission of Scottish and English parliaments failing to elaborate the Union model satisfying both sides, the idea of the Union found a lot of supporters. They hoped that the Union would strengthen the island kingdom and simultaneously would preserve Scottish and English identities. The supporters of the Union used geographic, religious, linguistic and antiquarian arguments evidencing the unity of the two nations’ origin.

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