Basilikon Doron facts for kids
The Basilikon Doron is a special book about how to be a good ruler. It was written by King James VI of Scotland in 1599. He later became King James I of England too.
Contents
What is Basilikon Doron?
The name Basilikon Doron (Βασιλικὸν Δῶρον) means "royal gift" in Ancient Greek. King James wrote it as a private letter for his oldest son, Henry, Duke of Rothesay. Henry was born in 1594 but sadly passed away in 1612. After Henry's death, King James gave the book to his second son, Charles, who was born in 1600. Charles later became King Charles I.
Only seven copies of the book were first printed in Edinburgh in 1599. But when King James became king of England in 1603, it was printed again in London and sold thousands of copies!
What's Inside the Book?
The Basilikon Doron has three main parts, like chapters, that give advice on how to be a strong and fair monarch.
Being a Good Christian King
The first part talks about a king's duty to God. King James told his son to love, respect, and also have a healthy fear of God. He also said it was important to carefully read the Bible and pray often. A king should always be thankful for what God has given him.
How to Rule Well
The second part focuses on being a good king, not a harsh ruler. James advised his son to:
- Create and follow fair laws.
- Govern with justice and treat everyone equally.
- Help the country's economy grow. This means inviting business people from other countries and making sure the money is based on gold and silver.
- Get to know his people. It would be smart to visit each part of his kingdoms every three years.
- Choose experienced leaders for his army, but have young and strong soldiers.
- Pick loyal and trustworthy people to work in his palace and household.
- When choosing a wife, she should share his religion and come from a wealthy family. She should focus on her home duties and not get involved in government decisions.
- To keep the kingdom stable, it should be passed down to the oldest son, not split among all children.
- Most importantly, a king must know how to govern his people well. This means studying the laws of his kingdom and actively taking part in government meetings.
- He should also learn mathematics for military plans and world history for dealing with other countries.
A King's Daily Life
The last part of the Basilikon Doron gives advice on a monarch's everyday habits. For example, James told his son to eat meat to stay strong, especially when traveling or during wartime.
- He should also get enough rest but not sleep too much.
- His clothes should always be clean and proper.
- He should keep his hair and nails trimmed.
- When writing and speaking, he should use honest and clear language.
All these ideas formed a guide for kings and leaders to rule effectively. King James wrote these directions based on his own experiences. He hoped the Basilikon Doron would help his son become a capable ruler and that the advice would be passed down to future generations.
The book also supported the idea of the divine right of kings. This means that a king's power comes directly from God. King James also warned against certain religious groups he disagreed with, like "Papists" (Catholics) and "Puritans". He believed in following a "middle path" in religion, which was also shown in the introduction to the King James Bible published in 1611.
How it Was Published
The published Basilikon Doron was probably meant to make King James look good to his people. James Sempill helped King James write it. Robert Waldegrave, a printer, was sworn to secrecy and printed seven copies for the king. Other printers like Henry Taylor, Richard Royston, and William Dugard later printed more copies.
See also
- Eikon Basilike
- Daemonologie
- The True Law of Free Monarchies
