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NZ Herald
2 days ago
- Politics
- NZ Herald
James of thrones: A new book on the monarch who created modern Britain
'The wisest fool in Christendom': King James I. Photo / Getty Images Compelling, meticulous account of the life and aspirations of the monarch who created modern Britain. What do you know of James I? Your answer might include 'gunpowder plot', 'Bible', 'witches', and maybe, 'Was he the gay one?' But do you then draw a blank? Here's a highly readable, meticulously researched book to fill those gaps and give you a broad understanding of this fascinating period of history, when the world order was undergoing profound changes that would ripple down through the centuries. The events of James I's reign took place 400 years ago, but we're still dealing with their consequences today. British historian Anna Whitelock says The Sun Rising isn't a biography. 'Rather it is a reframing, a 'provocation' which seeks to move beyond traditional accounts, to place James in a global context, as a 'politician' who … laid the foundations for the future development of Britain; its identity, ambition and place in the world.' The result is a fascinating insight into Britain and beyond at the start of the 17th century. It includes riproaring tales of adventure – sometimes tragic, often comic, always gripping – and is brought to life with contemporary quotes that give a real flavour of the times. James I was 36 when he ascended to England's throne in 1603. He'd already been King James VI of Scotland since the age of one. He was the first monarch of the Stuart dynasty and the first king of both England and Scotland, and was committed to uniting those two kingdoms. During his reign, modern Britain was born, with the creation of a common currency and a British flag – now called the Union Jack. For the first time, ambassadors were appointed to represent 'the King of Great Britain'. The European powers – Britain, Spain, Portugal, France and the Netherlands – were jostling for position, particularly when it came to trade. It's a brave author who discusses the origins of colonialism, but Whitelock does this brilliantly, plunging us into the mindset of the times, never excusing, only laying out the facts, the context and the history. Part one discusses James's ascension to the throne. When Elizabeth I died, this most stubborn of queens had failed to name her successor and people were nervous. Civil war was a distinct possibility and the English worried that European countries would use the excuse of a contested succession to invade. But James – and here we see the canny Scot – had spent years secretly planning for this, cultivating alliances with both Catholic and Protestant courts in Europe, as well as significant players in England. Of note is his secret correspondence with Elizabeth's closest adviser, Robert Cecil. This was dangerous for Cecil – Elizabeth liked to know everything. We learn that James's code name for Cecil was '10', while Cecil referred to James as '30'. When Elizabeth died, James proceeded to London with great ceremony. 'It was to be a truly unprecedented progress: a king of Scotland travelling south … to peacefully claim the crown of England after centuries of acrimonious rivalry and warfare between the two nations.' Nevertheless, we learn that more than 4000 soldiers were deployed across London and that eight ships were moored on the Thames in case of foreign invasion. The English were mostly happy with James as successor, not least because he already had two male heirs (he'd been married to Anne of Denmark for 13 years). Plus, he was a direct descendent of Henry VII, his grandmother being Henry's eldest daughter. James's greatest desire was for peace in Christendom and he worked hard to towards this end. He didn't achieve it but left as his legacy the King James Bible, first published in 1611: 'James hoped the new translation would unify his kingdom and build a national identity in which he, the Bible and the church stood together. A single Bible translation equalled a unified church, and a unified church was the first step to a unified country.' In part two we head overseas. Britain desperately needed to secure trade routes, because at the end of Elizabeth's reign, England was broke. 'My hairs stand upright to think of it,' Cecil wrote in 1601. This is the meatiest part of the book with tales of early settlers in Virginia, and trade wars and bumbling fiascos in the East. The author tells a great tale, and the descriptions of those voyages of exploration, those meetings with sultans and shoguns and shahs, have the flavour of historical fiction, except they're true. Anna Whitelock: A fascinating account of early 17th-century life. Photos / Supplied In part three we're back to Protestants vs Catholics, and we learn of the lengths to which James went to secure peace in Europe. He attempted to keep the Catholics on side by marrying his eldest son to the Spanish infanta (it didn't happen), while also supporting his powerful Protestant son-in-law Frederick, the Elector Palatine of the Rhine. It was an impossible task and James died without achieving his dream, as Europe became embroiled in the Thirty Years War. James I was described by a contemporary as 'the wisest fool in Christendom'. Whitelock writes, 'James could be pragmatic, shrewd and adept. A highly educated man with extensive views on issues ranging from theology and political philosophy to witchcraft, from tobacco use to silkworm-farming, he showed guile during his reign, balancing principle with pragmatism …' I was impressed, particularly with his focus on peace. However, we also see the beginnings of the struggle between parliament and the monarchy that would lead to the English Civil War. There are portraits, illustrations, and maps of 17th-century London, Asia and the Americas – a great addition to what is already a highly readable account of James and the dawn of a global Britain. The Sun Rising: James I and the Dawn of a Global Britain by Anna Whitelock (Bloomsbury, $44.99) is out on July 29.
Daily Record
5 days ago
- Business
- Daily Record
The iconic Scottish castle with history linked to Robert the Bruce and Mary Queen of Scots
The castle undergoing a redevelopment is expected to reopen later this year An iconic castle with links to two of Scotland's most famous monarchs is set to open its doors to the public again this year. However, the multi-million pound redevelopment has been delayed. The long-awaited opening of Inverness Castle as a new £30million visitor attraction has been pushed back from the planned re-opening this summer, with completion now expected later this year. The redevelopment project began in 2022 and involves transforming the former sheriff court and prison into the Inverness Castle Experience, a flagship tourism initiative led by Highland Council and High Life Highland. A spokesperson for the project said the scheme was 'a complex and specialised project', with the main construction phase still ongoing but nearing completion. Once open, the new attraction will take visitors on an interactive journey through the history, myths and landscapes of the Highlands. A virtual guide in the form of a dog named Cuillin will lead younger guests through the experience. A bistro and bar will also be part of the new offering. Earlier this year, a recruitment day was held to showcase the range of jobs being created as part of the project, which is supported by the £315million Inverness and Highland City Region Deal. In February, Highlands and Islands Enterprise increased its contribution by £863,000, bringing its total investment to £2.86million. Perched on Castle Hill overlooking the River Ness, Inverness Castle comprises two castellated buildings designed by renowned architect William Burn. The courthouse dates back to the 1830s, while the adjoining prison wing was completed in the 1840s. But the site's history stretches far beyond the Victorian era. A fortification has stood on Castle Hill since at least the 11th century, when King David I established a timber and earth castle. It replaced a stronghold previously razed by his father, Malcolm III, who defeated rival Macbeth. Over time, the site witnessed turbulent chapters involving Robert the Bruce, James I, Mary, Queen of Scots, and Bonnie Prince Charlie. During the Wars of Independence, Robert the Bruce destroyed an earlier stone-built castle in 1308 to stop English forces using it. James I later arrested and imprisoned rebellious Highland chiefs here in 1428, prompting years of retaliatory attacks from the Lords of the Isles. In 1562, Mary, Queen of Scots, was denied entry to the castle by George Gordon, Earl of Huntly. After a three-day siege by her supporters, the keeper Alexander Gordon was captured and hanged. The castle changed hands repeatedly in the 17th century, occupied at various times by Royalists, Covenanters, and British government troops. Following the 1746 defeat at Culloden, Bonnie Prince Charlie ordered the castle destroyed. According to legend, a French soldier triggered the explosion, and was blown across the river, while his poodle survived. The site lay derelict until the 19th century, when the present courthouse and prison were constructed. It later became the seat of Inverness-shire Constabulary and remained in use until the courts service relocated in 2020. The grounds still contain the original medieval well, and the striking statue of Highland heroine Flora MacDonald, completed in 1896 by local sculptor Andrew Davidson, still looks out across the River Ness.
UPI
19-06-2025
- Entertainment
- UPI
Famous birthdays for June 19: Jean Dujardin, Robin Tunney
June 19 (UPI) -- Those born on this date are under the sign of Gemini. They include: -- British King James I in 1566 -- Philosopher/mathematician Blaise Pascal in 1623 -- Wallis Simpson, duchess of Windsor, in 1896 -- Comedian/actor Moe Howard in 1897 -- Musician Guy Lombardo in 1902 -- Baseball Hall of Fame member Lou Gehrig in 1903 File Photo courtesy of Pacific & Atlantic Photos, Inc -- Musician Lester Flatt in 1914 -- Film critic Pauline Kael in 1919 -- Actor Nancy Marchand in 1928 -- Actor Gena Rowlands in 1930 -- Nobel Peace Prize laureate/Myanmar politician Aung San Suu Kyi in 1945 (age 80) -- Writer Salman Rushdie in 1947 (age 78) File Photo by Peter Foley/UPI -- Actor Phylicia Rashad in 1948 (age 77) -- Musician Nick Drake in 1948 -- Musician Ann Wilson (Heart) in 1950 (age 75) -- Musician Larry Dunn (Earth, Wind & Fire) in 1953 (age 72) -- Actor Kathleen Turner in 1954 (age 71) File Photo by John Angelillo/UPI -- Musician/dancer/TV personality Paula Abdul in 1962 (age 63) -- Political commentator Laura Ingraham in 1963 (age 62) -- Musician Brian Vander Ark (Verve Pipe) in 1966 (age 59) -- Actor Mia Sara in 1967 (age 58) -- TV personality Lara Spencer in 1969 (age 56) -- Musician Brian "Head" Welch (Korn/Love and Death) in 1970 (age 55) -- Actor Jean Dujardin in 1972 (age 53) -- Actor Robin Tunney in 1972 (age 53) File Photo by Jonathan Alcorn/UPI -- Actor Hugh Dancy in 1975 (age 50) -- Musician Scott Avett (Avett Brothers) in 1976 (age 49) -- Basketball Hall of Fame member Dirk Nowitzki in 1978 (age 47) -- Actor Zoe Saldana in 1978 (age 47) -- Musician Macklemore in 1983 (age 42) -- Actor Aidan Turner in 1983 (age 42) -- Actor Paul Dano in 1984 (age 41) -- Actor Giacomo Gianniotti in 1989 (age 36) -- Actor Atticus Shaffer in 1998 (age 27)
Yahoo
21-02-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Wolves Could Be an Unlikely Hero in the Fight to Save Humanity
Grey wolves were excised from Scotland roughly 250 years ago, ending decades of attempted eradication. Fortunately for Scotland's climate, reintroducing wolves to the region could lead to native woodland growth and increased CO2 sequestration. Large carnivores, in fact, may be a nature-based solution to parts of the climate crisis. When we learn about ecosystems in elementary school, we're taught that animals at the top of the food chain (lions, tigers, alligators, etc...) have no natural predators. As a result it can be hard to fathom that some of their populations have declined to the point of extinction—until, that is, you remember humans. We humans aren't considered 'natural predators,' but we are largely responsible for the disappearance of these ecological kings in many regions. Wolves, in particular, have a long history of being tormented by humans. According to the UK Wolf Conservation Trust, the earliest extermination record in Scotland dates back to 1238, when an allowance was paid to 'one hunter of wolves.' One king—James I of Scotland—passed an act in 1427 requiring all lords to seek out and kill wolves. In later years, the Earl of Atholl held multiple wolf hunts. Despite being routinely slaughtered, wolves persevered in Scotland until roughly 250 years ago. Now, a new study published in the journal Ecological Solutions and Evidence suggests reintroducing them to the region may drastically reduce carbon dioxide levels. It may seem counterintuitive at first. After all, why would adding another species that eats and breathes have positive effects on CO2 levels? Well, it all goes back to the food chain. The study explains that apex predators play their role in the carbon cycle by controlling wild herbivore populations. In Scotland, the population of red deer has soared as high as 400,000 (that's roughly one deer for every 14 people in the country) without grey wolves hunting them. Deer, and in certain areas sheep, prevent tree saplings from growing across the region. According to the study, reintroducing large carnivores to control deer abundance could lead to woodland expansion that would absorb up to 1 million metric tonnes of CO2 each year. This would make up 5% of the carbon removal target for United Kingdom woodlands. At the current cost of carbon dioxide removal and storage, the team estimates each wolf would be worth up to £154,000 (roughly $194,000 USD) per year—though, the estimate doesn't include the initial cost required to reestablish the population. The study also doesn't consider how changing herbivore dynamics and woodland expansion could affect soil carbon. 'There is an increasing acknowledgement that the climate and biodiversity crises cannot be managed in isolation,' Dominick Sprackled, lead author of the study, said in a press release. 'We need to look at the potential role of natural processes such as the reintroduction of species to recover our degraded ecosystems and these in turn can deliver co-benefits for climate and nature recovery.' The study isn't without controversy, however. Conflict between humans and large predators is a major point of contention, as reintroducing carnivores could potentially interfere with activities like raising livestock. 'We recognize that substantial and wide-ranging stakeholder and public engagement would clearly be essential before any wolf reintroduction could be considered,' the researchers wrote. 'Human-wildlife conflicts involving carnivores are common and must be addressed through public policies that account for people's attitudes for a reintroduction to be successful.' You Might Also Like The Do's and Don'ts of Using Painter's Tape The Best Portable BBQ Grills for Cooking Anywhere Can a Smart Watch Prolong Your Life?
