Scottish History

Early Scotland

The earliest settlers in Scotland most likely came from the lands now known as Scandinavia. At the end of the last Ice Age, (10,000BC approx.) the ice sheets had retreated but the sea levels had not yet risen and for a brief space of time there was a land-bridge linking northern Scotland to northern Europe. These first settlers were later joined by others coming up through Europe and through what would eventually be England. The evidence for these early settlers can be found on the islands of Northern Scotland where their stone-works can still be found to this day. More on Early Scotland >>

The story of Robert the Bruce

Although William Wallace and Robert the Bruce were of the same period in Scottish history, their aims were, to begin with, very different. Wallace was driven by patriotism and hatred of the English invaders, Bruce on the other hand, was initially motivated by his personal ambition. The family of Bruce was Anglo-Norman and known as de Brus. His grandfather had been one of the claimants to the Scottish throne when Balliol was nominated by the English King, Edward I. The Bruce had originally sworn fealty (allegiance) to the English king too but changed sides as Wallace became recognized as the leader of the Scottish armies by virtue of his various successes against the English. More on Story Of Robert The Bruce

Highland Clearances

The violent end to the Jacobite rising of 1745 also sounded the death knell of Highland society. What began in less than an hour of fighting on Culloden moor took nearly a century to complete. The first actions of the government were to destroy the basis of Highland life. The Clan system was primarily martial. Once the need for large numbers of fighting men was obviated and indeed made illegal, it was possible, for the first time, for the money economy to enter Highland society. The Anglicisation of the ruling Highland class meant that as the numbers of Gaelic speaking lairds dropped, and the numbers of monoglot lairds rose the chief became a feudal landlord for the first time in any real sense. More on the Highland Clearances

Mary Queen Of Scots

Mary Stuart, born at Linlithgow, 7 December, 1542; died at Fotheringay, 8 February, 1587. She was the only legitimate child of James V of Scotland. His death (14 December) followed immediately after her birth, and she became queen when only six days old. More on Mary Queen Of Scots

Notable Dates

From 80AD to 1744. More on Notable Dates

Story of Rob Roy

In 1286, Alexander III, King of Scots, died when he fell off a cliff at Kinghorn in Fife while riding to see his wife on a stormy March night. The successor to the Scottish throne was his granddaughter Margaret (a sickly three year old girl, the daughter of the King of Norway and the late Margaret, Alexander's daughter). All of Alexander's other children having pre-deceased their father. The earls and other great magnates had accepted Margaret as the heir to the throne and arrangements were made to bring her to Scotland. In the meantime several Guardians were appointed to govern the realm in the Queen's absence. Discussions were held with Edward I of England to prevent any instability. Edward was very generous and kind, and after much diplomacy, a treaty was signed whereby the new queen was to marry Edward's own son, also Edward. More on Story of Rob Roy

Story Of William Wallace

William Wallace entered into the history books during a fairly calm and affluent period of time period in Scottish history. For generations, Scottish monarchs had ruled successfully, and now, in the 1270s, King Alexander III had dealt shrewdly with the England's more powerful king, Edward I. More on Story Of William Wallace

Trial Of William Wallace

William Wallace of Renfrew had managed to rally his disparate Scottish countrymen against the strict rule of England. There was a void amongst the Scottish royalty since 1286 and a bitter family dispute over who should be King divided the land. The English King, Edward I, seized upon the confusion to march into Scotland and, in 1296, after brutal massacres, brought the Scottish noblemen to their knees. More on the Trial Of William Wallace

Wars Of Independence

Original content provided by the Gazetteer for Scotland at http://www.geo.ed.ac.uk/scotgaz/ and used with their permission.