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Scotland
From A Storehouse of Knowledge
Scotland is one of the four constituate countries of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. It shares a border with England to the south. Scotland and England warred for centuries before uniting; England conquered Scotland twice, but Scotland won independence both times. Finally, after Queen Elizabeth of England died, King James VI of Scotland took the throne of England as her next heir, putting the two kingdoms in a personal union. However, they were not officially united until 1707, when the Act of Union officially made them both parts of the United Kingdom.
It differs from England and Wales in some areas of law, has its own tax raising powers and partially devolved government, and has a strong national identity. The Celtic language of Gaelic is now only spoken in a few remote areas of The Highlands and islands and has been almost universally replaced by English. However, the Scots dialect of English, made famous by the poet Robert Burns, is widely spoken and is used alongside English for some official purposes.
The capital city of Scotland is Edinburgh; however, the largest city (and industrial, media and commercial capital) is Glasgow. Other major cities include Aberdeen, Dundee and Inverness. Scotland's national flower is the thistle and the national game is football.
Contents |
List of Monarchs of Scotland
Early kings
- Kenneth I McAlpin (r. 843-858)
- Donald I (r. 858-862)
- Constantine I (r. 862-877)
- Aed (r. 877-878)
- Giric (r. 878-889)
- Donald II (r. 889-900)
- Constantine II (r. 900-943)
- Malcolm I (r.943-954)
- Indulf (r. 954-962)
- Dubh or Duff (r. 962-966)
- Culen (r. 966-971)
- Kenneth II (r. 971-995)
- Constantine III (r. 995-997)
- Kenneth III (r. 971-997)
- Malcolm II (r. 1005-1034)
- Duncan I (r. 1034-1040)
- Macbeth (r. 1040-1057)
- Lulach (r. 1057-1058)
- Malcolm III (r. 1058-1093). He married St. Margaret, great-niece of Edward the Confessor, who had fled to Scotland after the Norman Conquest.
- Donald III (r. 1093-1094, 1094-1097)
- Duncan II (r.1094)
- Edgar (r. 1097-1107)
- Alexander I (r.1107-1124)
- David I (r. 1124-1153)
- Malcolm IV (r. 1153-1165)
- William I (r. 1165-1214)
- Alexander II (r.1214-1249)
- Alexander III (r. 1249-1286)
Interregnum
- Margaret, Maid of Norway (r. 1286-1290). At age three, she was chosen Queen of Scots upon the abrupt death of her grandfather Alexander III. She was in Norway at the time; while en route to Scotland at age seven, she took ill and died upon landing.
Upon Margaret's death without heir, Scotland plunged into a succession crisis. Several claimants vied for the crown, with John Balliol and Robert Bruce being the main contenders. King Edward I of England was asked to arbitrate the dispute among the fourteen claimants, and he agreed on condition that he be recognised as Scotland's feudal overlord. The nobility refused to acknowledge Edward in this way, but did agree to allow Edward the rule of Scotland until a successor was chosen. In 1292, Edward chose John Balliol as the most rightful successor to Scottish rule.
After John Balliol's succession, Edward continued to claim overlordship of Scotland, and the Scottish nobles continued to deny the claim. Tensions and disagreements increased until in 1296 Edward invaded Scotland, deposed Balliol and took him and the Stone of Destiny back to England.
In 1296 Andrew de Moray raised a revolt in the north of Scotland, and in 1297 William Wallace raised one in the south (taking the title Guardian of Scotland). Moray died in 1297 from wounds he received at the Battle of Stirling Bridge (having merged his forces with Wallace's). Wallace was captured and executed in 1305.
The Bruces
- Robert Bruce I (r. 1306-1329), who led the successful revolt against the English occupation.
- David II (r. 1329-1371)
The Stewarts
- Robert II (r.1371-1390)
- Robert III (r. 1390-1406)
- James I (r. 1406-1437)
- James II (r. 1437-1460)
- James III (r. 1460-1488)
- James IV (r.1488-1513), who married Margaret Tudor daughter of Henry VII of England.
- James V (r.1513-1542)
- Mary, Queen of Scots (r.1542-1567), deposed by a coalition of Protestants including John Knox.
- James VI (James I in England) (r. 1567-1625), who succeeded to the crown of England upon the death of Elizabeth I.
- Charles I
- Charles I was deposed in the Covenanter revolt. After Oliver Cromwell won the ensuing English Civil War, he invaded Scotland, united both realms, and ruled as Lord Protector. Shortly after his death, the monarchy was reestablished.
- Charles II (r. 1660-1685)
- James VII (James II in England) (r.1685-1689), deposed by Act of Parliament following the Glorious Revolution
- William II (William III in England) (r. 1689-1702) and Mary II (r.1689-1694)
- Anne (r.1702-1714)
For succeeding rulers, see under United Kingdom.
