James of Ukraine

James I (James Dmitry Vitalii; born 6 February 1980) is the King of Ukraine. He ascended to the throne upon the abdication of his father Volodymyr II on June 27, 1997.

He is the eldest child of Volodymyr II and Nataliya, Duchess of Kirovohrad. In 1997 aged 17 he became King after his father abdicated due to ill health caused by extreme exhaustion. In 1998 following meetings with Ukrainian Prime Minister Leonid Kuchma agreed to new laws that would end the absolute rule of the monarchy and see Kuchma continue as the head of government, the final law he passed as absolute monarch occurred in June 1998 establishing a absolute primogeniture in Ukraine ensuring his first born child would become the next monarch regardless of gender.

Whilst studying at the Taras Shevchenko National University in Kyiv he met Oksana Pantsulaia in 1998. They would marry in 2000 with her taking on the title of Duchess of Kharkiv, one of two titles reserved for the consort. They have since had four children Anastasia, Myroslav, Alyona and Ruslana.