When King James VI of Scotland ascended to the English throne in 1603, he forever joined the English and Scottish crowns. King James called his island kingdom, "Great Britain". Great Britain consists of England, Scotland, and Wales. These England and Scotland, however, maintained separate parliaments until 1707 when they were fused into one. The United Kingdom, formed in 1801, consists of England, Scotland, Wales, and Ireland.
One of our readers sent this update (many thanks!)--
"Great Britain does indeed consist of England, Scotland, and Wales, however there are only two Kingdoms involved, not three. Wales was and continues to be, a Principality of England. It has never had a separate parliament (until last year when a "Welsh Assembly" was established). Thus only two parliaments were merged in 1707.
"The United Kingdom, formed in 1801, incorporated the whole of Ireland, not merely the north. Its correct title was "The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland". Note, no mention of England and Scotland (still less of Wales) since they were already incorporated in "Great Britain". This was of course altered in 1922 to "The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland" with the establishment of the Irish Free State.
"As James was also King of Ireland, your map should show no division between the north and south of that island."
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