Early Stuart England

Early 1621

As England faces war in Europe and an economic crisis at home, parliament meets for the first time in seven years.  Francis Bacon advises James to build goodwill by allowing parliament to reform government before asking for money - a strategy that Bacon soon regrets.

1620

Just as England is about to be sucked into the war in Europe, a mysterious trade recession strikes the kingdom.  The Privy Council scrambles to find a solution.

1619-1620

Pushed out of mainstream politics because of their anti-Spanish views, a group of hard-line Calvinists take to international commerce.  Competition with Spain on the high seas and around the globe provides them with an outlet, and a place to organize and prepare for the day James finally sees Spain as the enemy.

1620

James scrambles to contain the Bohemian crisis despite the best efforts of his son-in-law Frederick.  However, the Thirty Years' War becomes truly international with fighting in both Bohemia and western Germany.

1618-1619

A rebellion in Bohemia sends the Holy Roman Empire into religious and political turmoil.  At the centre of events is James' son-in-law, Frederick V, elector of the Palatine.

1618-1619

With a religious and political civil war brewing in the Netherlands, James intervenes to broker a settlement.

1618-1619

Buckingham's reform team takes on their greatest challenge yet - cleaning up the navy.  In doing so, Buckingham finds the identity that will define the rest of his career - Lord Admiral, the chief military office in the kingdom.

1618

Thomas Howard, the Earl of Suffolk, tries to beat Buckingham at his own game by placing a young, attractive man close to the King.  Buckingham survives the attack and finally snuffs out the Howard faction.  But anxieties about the nature of James' relationships with his favourites grow.

1607-1617

In the years since the Flight of the Earls, Ireland becomes a hot bed of corruption for court figures in England.  This process only speeds up with the rise of George Villiers, Earl of Buckingham.

1603-1617

Despite his absence in England, James continues to pursue his project of reforming the Scottish Church.  In the summer of 1617 he returns to his native land to oversee the return of bishops as important players in Scottish governance.