Why King James I Was Obsessed With Burning Witches

The religious violence of the Protestant Reformation and legacy of political strife between Queen Elizabeth I and Mary, Queen of Scots loomed over the reign of King James I. Both issues influenced him to keep a firm hold on the political, but fear the supernatural.

The only son of Mary, Queen of Scots and Henry Stuart, Lord Darnley, James was born in 1566 during an ongoing conflict between Scotland and England. When he was one year old, he ascended the Scottish throne as King James VI - after his mother abdicated her position - and was crowned King James I of England after the passing of his cousin, Queen Elizabeth I, in 1603.

To read more about this witch burner, go here:

#witch #kingjames #weirdhistory

[ElizabethMcCormick-sn]

He had the nerve to think that a storm was whipped up just to make his life miserable! He took WAY too many things personally!

[SoberOKMoments]

It didn't hurt the royal coffers that any property of witches went to the King after he had them burned alive. He was more monster than unifier.

[EdwardandJessicaMiller]

“Oi, she turned me into a newt!”

“A newt?”

“…I got better.”

[juliewoodcock]

“Blaming someone for the weather.” Sounds like MTG.

[scottwexlin]

As an organist, I appreciate Bach in the background during the intro.

[robviousobviously]

"What do we burn besides witches?

MORE witches! "

[NASCARFAN]

It's always a good day whenever Weird History uploads

[misterhat]

New narrator hit this one out of the park.

[TH-hykr]

Well, if we learned anything from Monty Python it's that witches weigh the same as ducks which mean they float and must be made of wood.

Clearly, King James I was just trying to keep his people warm. /s

[BobTheBorracho]

Nice video, nice research, Just one small thing - Berwick is pronounced Ber-(as in berry)-ick. That goes for all the places i know with that word in their name, eg. North Berwick, Berwick-on-Tweed etc. Keep up the good work.

[VersieKilgannon]

I always find it sadly hypocritical that while he was obsessed with burning supposed witches, the man was incredibly gay. It's almost like his witch burning escapade was an attempt to keep people from knowing about his true sexuality. Fat load of good it did him cuz it's well documented 😅

[Kharis-]

imagine subscribing for a narrator instead of for weird history

[gregorygallagher]

HA! Nobody should feel good about inspiring Shakespeare's Macbeth

[TheSaltydog]

Science was slowly awakening. Witchcraft was all they had.

😩 ‘ The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree. ’ - Ancient Proverb

[Tully__]

Is this narrator the son of our fave narrator coz they sound similar in some ways 😊

[moelaynae]

The Doom Guy drops caught me off guard

[nikki]

You’ve got that backwards, his father died, not in an explosion since he was found outside the home strangled then his mother was ousted after marrying Bothwell, the man accused of killing her husband, shortly after Darnley’s death.

[AeneasGemini]

I'll never get bored of Americans trying to pronounce SCAATLAND 👍

[fearthecoffinman]

"...She turned me into a Newt..."



"...I got better..."