FORMAL DRESS AT THE
ATMOSPHERIC STIRLING CASTLE.
Early
settlements in Scotland date back to 4500 BC with Neolithic,
or
stone age farming people, evidence of whom still remains with burial
mounds, stone circles and the like. Much of the Neolithic remains are
to be found in the Western Isles and the Orkney Isles in the far north.
A Gaelic tribe came from Ireland in the 3rd-5th century. Named Scotti,
this tribe have given their name to modern Scotland, ie land of the
Scots, or Scotti.
When the Romans arrived around 80AD they encountered these Picts
and unable to quell the locals, they resorted to walling them in (or
out as it was) building Hadrian's Wall (begun circa 122 AD),
not far from the current England/Scotland border. Some years later they
built the Antonine Wall — roughly between the River Clyde
and the River Forth, but withdrew after failing to suppress the warlike
Picts, who, in the absence of the Romans, continued to wage war amongst
themselves for the next 400 years.
Britons, Angles and Norse came over the next 500
years who, with the indiginous tribes were to form the complex fabric
of society by the time the first King (Malcolm) was proclaimed in 1034.
For the next three hundred years the title of king became more meaningful,
as an organised social structure evolved, and the title passed through
many hands, including the famous Robert the Bruce who was crowned
King of Scotland in 1306.
Robert the Bruce was succeeded by his son, David II. Bruce's nephew,
Robert II, who succeeded David, was the first king of the Stuart house
of English and Scottish royalty. Several more hundred years of plotting
and intrigue found Mary, Queen of Scots on the throne (at one
year old, in 1542) only to be pressured by the English and the French.
Negotiations on such matters were carried out under a variety of noblemen
or regents (who in reality exercised the power).
Religion now enters into the political spotlight with the Reformation
whereby Protestantism arose to challenge the Catholic doctrine. One
giant name at this time was John Knox who studied under Calvin
having fled from Scotland in 1553 and adopted and merged Lutherian concepts
and forcefully steered his cause under the banner of the Reformers.
After Mary Queen of Scots’ execution by Elizabeth I of England,
Knox further cemented the Reformers hold in authority.
