James I

Real World Example

James I, who ruled from 1603 to 1625, was the first monarch to unite the crowns of Scotland and England, calling himself the King of Great Britain. His reign marked the beginning of the Stuart era and was significant during the Age of Absolutism, a period when monarchs sought absolute control over their nations. James I believed in the divine right of kings, meaning he thought his authority to rule came directly from God, not from his subjects. This belief in strong centralized power influenced the development of modern constitutional monarchies, where a royal figurehead exists but true political power lies with elected officials. Today, his legacy persists as people value the balance between tradition and democracy, seen in the continued constitutional monarchy system in the United Kingdom, which combines historical royal presence with modern democratic governance.