James Stuart was King of Scotland as James VI from July 24, 1567 until his death, and King of England and Ireland as James I from March 24, 1603 until his death. Although he ruled with success in Scotland, he encountered great difficulties in England, including the famous Powder Plot of 1605 and successive conflicts with Parliament, which was hostile to him, especially in regard to tax increases. According to a historiographical tradition that began in the mid-seventeenth century, Jacobo's absolutist policy, financial irresponsibility and favors granted to unpopular favorites laid the foundations of the English Civil War, during which his son and successor, Carlos I, was executed.