On 19 June 1566, King James Stuart I was born in Edinburgh, Scotland. At the tender age of just thirteen months, young James was crowned King of Scotland. As a descendant of the Tudor dynasty of King Henry VII and a descendant of Mary Queen of Scots and her second husband, Lord Darnley of England, James I inherited great power and responsibility. Through an impeccable education, James I attempted to resolve personal and governmental issues, becoming a respected and recognized patron of the arts. Although he ended England's war with Spain, strengthened the Church of Scotland, and rehabilitated relations with England, the king James I's shortcomings were constantly targeted. His inability to manage finances and his obvious homosexuality were also often considered offensive. But the king's love of the theater caused the most controversy, as it was believed to be James' greatest weakness. Indeed, James I was a king of many inconsistencies. Despite his history as a skilled ruler, he was constantly haunted by the fear of not being affectionate enough to those close to him. Being a vigorous hunter, James displayed courage bordering on stupidity as a knight, but had an overwhelming fear of knives and other unsheathed weapons. Aside from the Gunpowder Plot of 1605, there had never been a legitimate threat to his life or well-being. Nonetheless, James wore unreasonably heavy clothing to protect himself from potential knife attacks. But James's paranoia and twenty-nine years of Scottish reign did little to prepare for the English monarch. England and Scotland, rivals for years, practically hated each other. This deep-seated distrust, coupled with conflicting religious views, severely limited James' chances of a successful reign. King James ...... center of card ...... in honor of King James I. Even after being ridiculed for his sexuality and called an incompetent leader, King James I became a respected patron as he grew intellectual and wise during his reign. King James I was not a total failure, but his Scottish origins failed to earn him the respect of English society. Works Cited Andrews, John F. "James I." The world and work of Shakespeare. vol. 3. Print.Brown, Henry. "King James I: Shakespeare's Patron." Shakespeare online. J.M. Dent & Sons, August 20, 2009. Web. August 1, 2012. .Butler, John. “James I of England.” Luminary. Np, 30 October 2006. Web. 3 April 2012. .Dewar, David. "James I." Facts on file. Np, 2012. Web. 1 April 2012. .Shostak, Elisabetta. "James I." Biographies of the Elizabethan world. 129. Print.