The Stuarts, a prominent Scottish royal house, ruled Scotland from 1371 to 1707 and England and Ireland from 1603 to 1714. The dynasty began with Robert II of Scotland, the son of Walter the Steward. James VI of Scotland inherited the English throne in 1603, becoming James I of England, thus uniting the two kingdoms under the Stuart banner. During their reign, the Stuarts faced religious and political turmoil, including the English Civil War, which resulted in the execution of Charles I in 1649. The dynasty was restored under Charles II in 1660 but ended with the death of Queen Anne in 1714, as she had no surviving children. The Stuarts left a lasting legacy on British history, shaping its political, religious, and cultural landscape.
