The Sun Rising: James I and the Dawn of Global Britain

Anna Whitelock provides a riveting new account of the first ‘King of Great Britain’ and the foundations that were laid for a global empire during his reign.

About the event

In 1603, England was on the verge of crisis. Queen Elizabeth I had died, bringing the Tudor line to an end. Enter King James, Elizabeth’s Scottish cousin. His accession established a new Stuart dynasty on the English throne and created the first ‘united’ kingdom of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales.

But first, this new ‘Great Britain’ had to play catch up. England was behind its European rivals on the global stage, but James’s ambitions began to shift the tide. Ships departed London for America, Russia, Persia, India and Japan, the fledgling East India Company began to intertwine ever closer with the Crown, and James’s subjects began to travel out into the world in greater numbers than ever before; the seeds of the future British Empire were sown.

Taking in everything from the historic voyage of the Mayflower to the alliance James made with the Persian shah over a joint love of silk, Anna Whitelock will revolutionise our understanding of the early 17th century and the figures that forged a global Britain.

Additional information

This event is eligible for our 20% ticket bundle discount.

Book tickets to three or more different events across the festival and you can save 20%. Tickets must be purchased in the same transaction and the discount will automatically be applied within the basket.

About the speaker

Anna Whitelock is a historian, author and broadcaster, and an international media commentator on monarchy, public history and heritage. She is Professor of the History of Monarchy at City St George’s, University of London and has written for publications including ‘History Today’, the ‘Guardian’ and the ‘New York Times’.