Following the death of Elizabeth I in 1603, her cousin James VI of Scotland ascended to the throne of which regions?

Okay, let's delve into the reign of James VI of Scotland and how he became James I of England, Wales, and Ireland. Elizabeth I, the last Tudor monarch, died without an heir in 1603. This created a succession crisis. James VI of Scotland, being her closest relative, was chosen to succeed her. Now, Scotland already had its own monarchy, and James was already king there. But the kingdoms of England and Scotland were separate entities at this time. When James became king of England, he also became king of Wales, because Wales had been incorporated into the English kingdom centuries earlier. He also became King of Ireland, which was under English control. So, while James was already ruling Scotland, his ascension to the English throne meant he also took on the crowns of England, Wales, and Ireland. It's important to remember that the *United Kingdom* didn't exist yet; that came later in 1707 with the Acts of Union. So, while it might be tempting to think of the UK, that's jumping ahead in history. James inherited those three specific regions in addition to his native Scotland.