On this day in Tudor history, 19th June 1566, Mary, Queen of Scots gave birth to a son at Edinburgh Castle. He was her only son and he was fathered by her second husband, Henry Stewart, Lord Darnley.
The little boy was baptised Charles James in a Catholic service on 17th December 1566 at Stirling Castle. The name Charles was in honour of his godfather, Charles IX of France, Mary's former brother-in-law, but he was known as James, after his grandfather, James V, and the other Stewart kings.
He became James VI of Scotland at the age of just 1 after Mary was forced to abdicate on 24th July 1567. He became James I of England on the death of Elizabeth I in 1603. He reigned until his death in 1625.
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Image: A painting of Mary, Queen of Scots, and her son, James VI of Scotland and James I of England. In reality, Mary last saw James when he was an infant.
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