The Stolen Crown: Treachery, Deceit, and the Death of the Tudor Dynasty

Historians have long considered the ascension of Elizabeth I’s successor, James I, a relatively settled matter ahead of Elizabeth’s death, but this meticulous account from historian Borman (Anne Boleyn & Elizabeth I) suggests a thornier transition. Drawing on a fresh interpretation of royal correspondence, Borman argues that James stole the crown. She lays out her case via an exploration of several technocratic, religious, and interpersonal intrigues. These include the fact that royal succession had been “profoundly destabiliz[ed]” by Elizabeth’s father, Henry VIII, who established that a sovereign could nominate their successor. Elizabeth chose to strategically keep her succession plans secret, effectively inciting a crew of claimants attempting to curry favor. Another quirk was a 14th-century law decreeing “those not born on English soil” couldn’t inherit a title, which made James—then James VI of Scotland—a front-runner to those who believed in England’s “suzerainty” over Scotland. Yet in a immersive close read of their letters, Borman illustrates how, much to James’s chagrin, the two royals’ relationship deteriorated over time, due to Elizabeth’s dislike of James’s misogyny, pro-Catholic policies, and desire for an equal English-Scottish union. The charge of “theft,” however, is undermined by the fact that James had “no single, strong competitor” when Elizabeth died. Still, this makes for an enthralling and detailed window into royal family drama. (Nov.)