Scotland History and scottish wars

Scottish written history began with the arrival of the roman troops on the British Isles, in year 43.

The Romans arrived in what is today Scotland about 40 years later, in year 79. But the Romans never got to control the whole scottish territory. Although their infuence was important, they could never defeat the prouds scots. The romans left in the Vth century, leaving Scotland divided.

Scottish History was since then marked with wars. Until the unification, in 1034, the different nations living in Scotlands fought for domination (picts, saxons, scots). Finally, Duncan, king of Strathclyde, killed his grandfather to unite Scotland.

In 1295, England invaded Scotland. The Scottish king coronation stone « the stone of destiny » was taken to London where it will stay til 1996 !

Then began the war for independence, which will last, by episods, for 400 hundred years.

In 1314, Robert The Bruce won against the English at the battle of Bannokburn and gained Scottish independence.

In 1502, the british King Henry VII married his daugther t James IV of Scotland, and so united the two kingdoms. 100 years later, in 1603, their heir, James VI of Scotland became James I of England and united the crowns. He and his son, Charles I tried to impose the church of England in Scotland, which generated a rebelllion and civil war.

Finally, in 1707, the Act if Union is past, uniting Scotland and England into Great Britain. The Scottish parliament was dissolved, it will only reborn in 1999.

A last hope for Scotland's independancy came with Bonnie Prince Charlie (Prince Charles Edward Stuart) who lead a rebellion against the government in 1745, but was defeated at the battle of Culloden in 1746. From then, the wearing of the kilt was prohibited.

The unity with England permitted then to Scotland to enter the new industrial era and greater economical developpement.

Last war came in 1943 when the Germans attacked Glasgow during WW2.

In recent history, the major event was the building of the first oil pipe in the North Sea in 1975, allowing Scotland with greater prosperity.