Guy Fawkes lived under several monarchs, but the king at the time of the Gunpowder Plot in 1605 was King James I of England (also James VI of Scotland).

Quick Scoop

  • Guy Fawkes was born in 1570, during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I, a Protestant monarch whose policies were harsh toward Catholics.
  • In 1603, after Elizabeth I died, James VI of Scotland became James I of England , uniting the crowns and continuing Protestant rule.
  • The Gunpowder Plot of 1605, with Fawkes as a key conspirator, specifically targeted King James I and Parliament, hoping to replace him with a Catholic-friendly ruler.

So, when people ask “who was king when Guy Fawkes lived,” the crucial answer—especially for Bonfire Night and the Gunpowder Plot—is King James I.