Who was King after King James?

As a historian with a focus on British monarchy, I can provide a detailed account of the succession following King James VI and I. King James VI and I, also known as James Charles Stuart, was a pivotal figure in British history, being the first monarch to rule both Scotland and England. His reign marked the beginning of the Stuart dynasty's rule over the two kingdoms, which would later become the United Kingdom. After the death of King James VI and I on March 27, 1625, the crown passed to his son, Charles I. Charles I was born on November 19, 1600, and ascended to the throne on his father's death. His reign was marked by significant conflict, most notably with the English Parliament, which led to the English Civil War. This war was a series of armed conflicts and political machinations between Parliamentarians and Royalists from 1642 until the execution of Charles I in 1649. Charles I's reign was characterized by his belief in the divine right of kings, which meant he believed that he was chosen by God to rule and was not answerable to his subjects. This belief led to a great deal of tension with the Parliament, which was increasingly seeking to limit the power of the monarchy. The situation escalated into a full-blown civil war, with the Parliamentarians, led by Oliver Cromwell, eventually emerging victorious. After the execution of Charles I, England briefly became a republic known as the Commonwealth of England, with Cromwell as Lord Protector. However, this period was short-lived, and in 1660, the monarchy was restored under Charles I's son, Charles II. Charles II was known as the "Merry Monarch" due to his fun-loving and carefree nature. His reign saw a period of relative stability and prosperity, as well as the beginnings of the modern English constitution with the passing of the Bill of Rights in 1689. Following Charles II's death without a direct heir, his brother, James II and VII (James II of England and James VII of Scotland), ascended to the throne. James II's reign was fraught with religious and political controversy, largely due to his Catholic faith in a predominantly Protestant country. His attempts to increase the power of the monarchy and promote Catholicism led to the Glorious Revolution of 1688, during which he was deposed by Parliament and replaced by his Protestant daughter Mary II and her husband, William III of Orange. William III and Mary II ruled jointly as co-monarchs, and their reign marked a significant shift in the balance of power between the monarchy and Parliament. The Bill of Rights, passed during their time on the throne, established the principle of parliamentary sovereignty and limited the powers of the monarch. In summary, the king who succeeded King James VI and I was his son, Charles I, who was followed by his grandson, Charles II, and then by his other grandson, James II and VII. After James II, the crown passed to his daughter and son-in-law, William III and Mary II, who ruled jointly and set the stage for the modern constitutional monarchy in Britain.

James VI and I (James Charles Stuart; 19 June 1566 -C 27 March 1625) was King of Scotland as James VI from 24 July 1567 and King of England and Ireland as James I from the union of the Scottish and English crowns on 24 March 1603 until his death in 1625.