The union of the crowns (1603-2003)

The University of St Andrews’ School of English will hold a special event this week (Friday 26th September, 2003) to mark the quatercentenary of the Union of the Crowns.

Four hundred years ago was the year in which James VI of Scotland became the first monarch to rule over both England and Scotland.

Entitled ‘King James and the Union: A Retrospective, 1603-2003’ the event will be held in the School on Friday 26 September 2003.

Organiser Professor Neil Rhodes said:

“Four hundred years ago on the death of Queen Elizabeth of England, her cousin, James VI of Scotland, became the first monarch to sit on the thrones of both kingdoms.

“The Union of the Crowns in 1603 was the first step towards ‘Great Britain’ and the ‘United Kingdom’, and James himself was an enthusiastic promoter of the Union and the new idea of a British state.”

Speakers include Jennifer Richards (University of Newcastle) on ‘Margins and Borders: Gabriel Harvey’s Reading of the Poetry of James VI’; Willy Maley (University of Glasgow) ‘Unpeeling the Union, 1603-2003’; ‘Roger Mason’ (University of St Andrews) ‘Union and Empire: Scottish Attitudes to 1603’; and James Loxley (University of Edinburgh), ‘James VI and I: A Political Theology’.

The symposium, open to members of the public and free of charge, will be held in Kennedy Hall (Room One) from 2pm – 5.30pm.

ENDS

Issued by Beattie Media On behalf of the University of St Andrews Contact Gayle Cook on 01334 467227, mobile 07900 050 103, or email [email protected] Ref: English quatercentenary PR240903 View the latest University news at http://www.st-andrews.ac.uk