 | 'For as long as but a hundred of us remain alive, we shall never submit to English domination. For it is not for glory, riches or honesty that we fight, but for freedom alone, that freedom which no honest man gives up, but with his life.' From the declaration of Arbroath, 1320. |  |
The Emperor Domitan agrees to the Roman Governor of Britain, Julius Agricola's request to invade Scotland.
A Roman fleet supporting the milatary expedition of the Roman Governor of Britain, Julius Agricola, compleats an exploratory voyage to the Western Isles.
A fort is constructed at Inchtuthill on the river Tay as a base for the 20 th Legion.
Battle of Mons Graupius, possibly at Bennachie. 30,000 Caledonia tribesmen under Calagus are defeated by two Roman legions, the 9 th and the 20 th, commanded by the Governor of Britain, Julius Agricola. Agricola's biographer Tacticus pens the following speach for Calagus: "The Romans rob, rape and kill ad call it Roman rule. thy make a desert and call it peace."
After seven years as Governor of Britain, Julius Agricola is recalled to Rome by the Emperor Domitian, who is allegedly jealous of Agricola's military successes.
The Emperor Antonius orders the consruction of a new 40 mile long earthwork between Old Kirkpatrick on the Firth of Clyde and Credigone (Carriden) on the Firth of Forth. It is intended to be a new frontier for the Roman Empire and replace Hadrian's wall which was constructed in 122 between the Solway Firth and the mouth of the river Tyne. Beyond the wall are several tribes: the Venicones, the Taexali, the Vacomagi, te Epidii, the Caledones, the Creones, and the Decantae. Between the Antonie wall and Hadrian's wall are the Votadini, the Dumnonii, the Selgovae and the Novantae.
A rebellion by the Brigantes in the Pennines forces the Roman Governor of Britain, Julius Verus, to abandon the Antonine wall.
The Antonine wall is re-garisoned following the suppression of the rebellion by the Brigantes.
The Antonine wall is abandoned again and Roman troops withdrawn to Hadrian's wall.
Birth of St Patrick, patron saint of Ireland, at Dumbarton.
St. Ninian founds a Christian church and monastery at Whithorn in Galloway.
Coroticus, the Christian King of Strathclyde, is excommnicated by Patrick, Bishop of Ireland for selling Irish Christians into slavery.
Comgall, King of Dalriada dies after a 30 year reign.
The Gododdin, based in Edinburgh, are defeated by Scots of Dalriada raiding in the valley of the Forth.
Columba is accused of causing a bloody battle in Ireland and sets off for exile with 12 companions.
St Columba lands at Iona.
St Columba is welcomed by the pagan Brude mac Maellchon, King of the Picts, at Inverness.
Aidan mac Gabhran, King of Dalriada, conquers the Orkney Islands.
Aidan mac Gabhran, King of Dalriada, conquers the Isle of Man.
Death of Brude mac Maellchon, King of the Picts, who remained a pagan despite attempts by St Columba to convert him to Christianity.
Aidan mac Gabhran, King of Dalriada, raids Pictland.
Athelfrith, son of Athelric, becomes King of Bernicia.
Death of St Columba at Iona, aged 76.
Battle of Catterick. An army of 300 Gododdin warriors from the Kingdom of Manau around Edinburgh are defeated by Athelfrith, King of Northumbria, which was recently formed from Bernicia and Deria.
Battle of Degastan in Liddesdale. The army of Athelfrith, King of Northumbria defeats that of Aidan mac Gabhran, King of Dalriada. Aidan's son is killed and most of his army is lost.
Death of Aidan mac Gabhran, King of Dalriada who dies at over 70 year of age. He was King of Dalriada for 34 years.
The missionary Kentigern, or "Mungo", who founded several churches including one in Glasgow, dies aged over 90.
Following the defeath and death in battle of Athelfrith, King of Northumbria by Edwin in 618, his three sons seek assylum with the Picts. One of them, Eanfrith marries a Pictich princess and their son, Talorgen, becomes King of the Picts in 653.
The Irish missionary Donnan and almos 150 followers are burnt to death by Picts from Skye following a dispute concerning sheep grazing rights.
Battle of Mag Rath in Ireland. Domnall mac Aedo, High King of Ireland, defeats and kills Ulaid leader of the Ulaid. Domhnall Brecc, King of Dalriada, loses his Dal Riata lands in Ireland.
Battle of Strathcarron. In his fourth major military defeat, Domhnall Brecc, King of Dalriada, is killed in battle by an army led by Owen, King of Strathclyde.
Talorgen, son of Eanfrith, and nephew of Oswy, King of Northumbria, becomes King of the Picts. Eanfrith married a Pictish princess during his exile, and because of matrilinear succession, his son has become King.
Death of Talorgen, King of the Picts, after a four year reign.
At Whitby, the Celtic church loses a debate with the Roman church on the calculation ofthe date of Easter.
Drest, King of the Picts, and brother of Egfrieth, King of Northumbria, is exiled. Brude Mac Bile, younger brother of the late Owen, King of Strathclyde, becomes King of the Picts.
Egfrith, King of Northumbria, invades Pictland following the exile of his brother Drest. The Pictish army is defeated by the Northumbrians.
The monastry at Coldingham is destroyed by fire.
Egfrith, King of Northumbria, releases Bishop of York after nine months imprisonment at Dunbar after Queen Eormenburg falls ill.
The Picts under King Brude Mac Bile conquer the Orkney Islands.
Battle of Dunnichen, near Forfar. The Picts under King Brude Mac Bile defeat an invading army of Angles under Ecgfrith, King of Northumberland. The invaders were drawn into the Sidlaw hills then cut off, ambushedand routed.
Following the death of Egfrith, King of Northumbria, his illegitimate half brother, Aldfrith leaves his exile on Iona to rule Northumbria.
Abbot Adoman of Iona negociates with Aldfrith, King of Northumbria for the release of Irish captives.
Six monks from Iona are drowned in a storm.
Abbot Adoman of Iona, who has completed his biography of St Columba, prepars to leave for ireland having failed to impose the Roman rather than Celtic calculation of the date for Easter.
Bridei, King of the Picts, is buried on Iona after a 21 year reign.
Abbot Adoman of Iona dies a year after completing his De Locis Santis (Of Holy Places) which he dedicated to Aldfrith, King of Northumbria.
Nechtan succeeds his brother Bridei as King of the Picts in defiance of custom.
Nechtan, King of the Picts is defeated by a Northumbrian army thus ending the Pictish expansion southwards.
Abbot Egbert of Iona managed to impose the Roman way of calculating Easter rather than the Celtic way upon the monks of Iona.
Nechtan, King of the Picts expells those monks on Iona who refuse to give up the Celtic calculation for Easter in favour of the Roman dating.
Nechtan, King of the Picts is forced to abdicate and retire to a monastry. There is civil war between four possible sucessors to the throne.
Death of Abbot Egbert who persuaded the monks of Iona to accept the Roman way of calculating Easter rather than the Celtic way.
The Pictict civil war ends after five years when Angus kills the final claimant, his cousin Drest, and becomes undisputed King of the Picts.
Death of Eochaid, King of Dalriada. The kingdom is leaderless.
Angus, King of the Picts defeats the Scots of Dalriada, captures the fortesss of Dunadd and becomes overlord of the Dalraida.
Edbert, King of Northumbria, wrests Kyle from the control of the King of Strathclyde.
Teudubr, son of Bili, King of Strathclyde becomes overlord of the Picts after beating King Angus in battle at Mugdock near Glasgow.
King Edbert of Northumbria, in alliance with King Angus of the Picts, takes control of Strathclyde.
Strathclyde fights back against the Northumbrians and Picts, forcing them to withdraw.
Death of Angus, King of the Picts, after a record reign of 32 years.
Following the death of Talorgen, King of the Picts, his sucessor Conall mac Tadc is defeated by Constantine mac Fergus.
Norsemen raid Iona abbey.
On Iona, 68 monks and laymen are killed by Norsemen who also burn the abbey. After this, the third raid in 11 years, Abbot Cellach decides to leave the island and found a new abbey at Kells in Ireland. A few monks refuse to abandon the abbey.
Constantine, King of Dalriada, founds a new church at Dunkeld to replace Iona Abbey as the spiritual heart of his realm.
Death of Constantine, King of the Picts. Angus II becomes King of the Picts. The capital is moved to Forteviot due to the risk of Norse raids.
Blathmac, leader of the monks who remain at Iona, is killed by Norsemen.
Death of King Angus II of the Picts in Fife. He founded a church at St Andrews.
Norse raiders begin to settle in the Hebrides and northern Scotland.
The Scots ruling classes are decimated during Norse invasions with King Eógan mac Oengusa of Fortrui, his brother King Aedh mac Boanta of Dalriada and many others being killed.
Kenneth MacAlpin becomes King of Dalriada.
King Kenneth MacAlpin unites the kingdoms of Dalriada (Scots) and the Picts to form Scotland after a seven year war with the Norse.
The remains of St Columba are removed from Iona due to the Norse threat.
Norse leader Olaf "the White" attacks Dublin from Orkney.
Olaf "the White" defeats the Hebridean Norse led by Ketil Flanose, King of the Hebrides.
Death of King Kenneth MacAlpin of Scots at Iona. He was the first king of a united Scotland. He is succeeded by his brother Donald I.
Death of King Donald of the Picts &Scots. He is succeeded by his nephew Constantine I.
Olaf "the White"Norse King of Dublin, raids the north of Scotland.
Olaf "the White", Norse King of Dublin, captures Dumbarton Rock, the capital of the Kingdom of Strathclyde, after a four month seige involving 200 longboats. Artgal, King of Strathclyde escapes before the fortress is captured.
Artgal, King of Strathclyde is killed on the orders of King Constantine I of Scots.
The Scots army under Constantine I suffers a heavy defeat by Halfdan's Vikings near Dollar.
After the death of Halfdan the Norseman, his army defeats the Scots and kill King Constantine I at a battle in Fife. Constanine I is succeeded by his brother Aedh.
King Aedh is killed at 'Nrurim' by his successor Giric who is said to have ruled with Eochaid, son of Run, King of Strathclyde.
King Giric is killed in battle at Dundurn in Tayside by Donald II, the son of Constantine I.
Eochaid, King of Strathcyde is exiled by King Donald II of Scots who annexes Starthclyde.
Eochaid, ex King of Strathclyde is allowed to settle in Gwynedd by King Anarawd.
King Constantine II, the son of Aedh, succeeds as King of Scots. He is consecrated at a ceremony at the Moot Hill at Scone which includes seating the King on the Stone of Destiny.
Battle of Starthearn. The Scots army, led by King Constantine II, defeat the Dublin Norse and kill their King, Ivar II.
King Constantine II of Scots agrees to enforce church laws in partnership with Cellach, Bishop of St Andrews.
King Constantine II of Scots defeats the Norse under Ragnald at Corbridge in Northumbria.
King Constantine II of Scots and King Owen of Strathcldye agreed a peace treaty with King Athelstan of Wessex.
Scots and Irish Norse ally against King Athelstan of Wessex. Olfar, son of Guthfrith the Norse King of Dublin, marries the daughter of King Constantine II of Scots.
King Athelstan of Wessex invades Scotland and gets as far as Dunnottar.
Battle of Brunanburh. King Constantine II of Scots, King Owain of Strathclyde and King Olaf III of Dublin are defeated by King Athelstan of England and his brother Edmund, later Edmund I of England. Five kings and seven earls from Ireland and the son of King Constantine of Scots weresai to have been salin in the battle.
King Constantine II, aged at least 64, abdicates after 43 years as King of Scots and retires to a monastary. He is succeeded by his cousin Malcolm I.
King Malcolm I of Scots makes peace with Edmund, King of Wessex and obtains overlordship of the Kingdom of Cumbria.
King Malcolm I of Scots invades England but is defeated by Edred, King of Wessex.
Death of ex-King Constantine II of Scots, aged at least 73, at Saint Andrews.
King Malcolm I of Scots is murdered near Kincardine in the Mearns by the people of Moray, whose territory he annexed. He is succeeded by his cousin Indulf, son of Constantine II.
King Indulf of Scots wins Edinburgh and Lothian from the Norse.
King Indulf of Scots is killed in battle by the Danes near Cullen. Indulf is succeeded by Dubh, King of Strathclyde, the son of King Malcolm I of Scots.
King Dubh (or Duff) is killed, and his body is found in a ditch near Kinross, after being kidnapped, allegedly by supporters of Cuilen, son of Indulf, who succeeds him. Duff's descendants fail to regain the throne but become the mormaers and later earls of Fife until 1371.
King Cuilen and his brother Eochaid are brunt to death in a hall in Lothian by Ridererch (or Amdarch), King of Strathclyde. It is alleged that Cuilen raped Riderech's daughter. Cuilen is succeeded by Kenneth II, brother of King Dubh.
Norse raiders kill the Abbot of Iona and 15 monks.
Conference of British kings in Chester. Those attending include Kenneth II of Scots, King Edgar of England, King Malcolm of Cumbria, Maccus of the Western Isles, King Dunmail of Strathclyde, Iago of Gwyned and Hywel. The English recognise Scots rule over Lothian and the Scots English influence over the northern Northumbrian province of Bernicia.
A Scots force led into the northern Northumbrian territory of Bernicia, by King Kenneth II is defeated by Uhtred, Earl of Northumbria.
King Kenneth II is reputedely killed in Fettercairn bya statue booby-trapped by Finvela, the daughter of the mormaer of Angus. He is succeeded by Constantine III, son of Cuilen. Kenneth wished to replace the system of tanistry with that of primogeniture.
King Constantine III is killed near Scone. He is the last king of the line of Aedh and is succeeded by Kenneth III, the son of Dubh.
King Kenneth III and his son Giric are killed in battle at Monzievaird in Strathearn by Malcolm II, the son of King Kenneth I.
Battle of Durham. A Scots army under King Malcolm II is defeated by Uhtred, Earl of Northumbria.
Sigard "the Stout", Earl of Orkney, marries Donada, younger daughter of King Malcolm II of Scots.
Battle of Carham. King Malcolm II of Scots defeats Uhtred, Earl of Northumberland. Owen "the bald", King of Cumbria, a kingdom under Scots overlordship, dies in the battle. Malcolm's grandson Duncan, the future King Duncan I of Scots, is appointed King of Strathclyde in his place. Uhtred is later assassinated by one of his nobles, apparantly under orders from King Knu, who appoints Eirik of Hlathir as Earl of Northumbria.
King Knut of Denmark and England invades the northern Northumbrian territory of Bernicia.
Death of King Malcolm II of Scots. He is succeeded by his grandson Duncan, King of Strathclyde, rather than the expected tainist another grandson, MacBeth, Mormaor of Moray.
King Duncan I of Scots attacks Durham but fails to retake the town.
Battle of Elgin. King Duncan invades Moray in an attempt to kill MacBeth, Mormaor of Moray. Duncan I is slain by MacBeth who is appointed High King of Scots.
A rebellion against King MacBeth by Crinan, lay Abbot of Dunkeld and Mormaor of Atholl, the father of King Duncan I, is cushed and Crinan is slain.
King MacBeth makes a pilgrimage to Rome, meets Pope Leo IX and impresses the citizens of Rome with his generosity.
King MacBeth is defeated in battle by Siward, Earl of Northumbria, and loses control of Lothian and Strthclyde to malcom Canmore, nephew of Siward and son of King Duncan of Scots.
King MacBeth is slain by Malcolm Canmore, son of Duncan I. He is succeeded by his stepson, King Lulach, who is crowned at Scone Abbey. Lulach is the son of Gillecomgain, Mormaer of Moray and Gruoch, granddaughter of King Kenneth III.
King Lulach is slain by Malcolm Canmore, son of King Duncan. Malcolm Canmore becomes King Malcolm III.
King Malcolm III of Scots raids Northumbria, currently held by Earl Tostig, third son of earl Godwin of Wessex and brother of the future King Harold. Tostig was appointed Earl by King Edward the Confessor in 1055 and is forced into exile by his thegns in 1065.
Death of Thorfin, Earl of Orkney at Birsay.
Following the death of King Harold II of England at the battle of Hastings, the Witengemot in London proclaim Edgar the Aetheling (Royal Prince), aged 13, son of Edward the Exile and grandson of Edmund II of England, as King of England.
At Berkhamsted near London, Edgar the Aetheling, the uncrowned Saxon King of England, and members of the Witan offer the throne of England to Duke William of Norway.
William the Conqueror sells the Earldom of Northumbria to Cospatrick of Bernicia.
The Saxon claimant Edgar the Aetheling, his mother and his sisters, including the future Queen Margaret of Scots, flee to the court of King Malcolm III of Scots.
The Saxon claimant Edgar the Aetheling wins a victory against the Normans. A Northumbrian army and a Danish force under the command of Osbern, brother of King Svein Estridson, King of Denmark take York, killing more than 3,000 Normans and taking two new castles.
William the Conqueror forces the Saxon "King" Edgar the Aetheling is forced to flee back to the court of King Malcolm III of Scots.
King Malcolm III of Scots marries Margaret, sister of the Saxon claimant Edgar the Aetheling.
King Malcolm III of Scots invades England as far south as Cleveland. Cospatrick, Earl of Northumbria attacks Malcolm's lands in Cumbria in retaliation.
William the Conqueror deposes Cospatrick, Earl of Northumbria and replaces him with Waltheof. Cospatrick flees to the court of King Malcolm III of Scots.
King Malcolm III of Scots meets King William the Conqueror of England at Abernethy. Malcolm submits to William, agreed to send his eldest son Duncan as a hostage, and to expel his brother in law, the Saxon "King" Edgar the Aetheling, from Scotland.
On the advice of King Malcolm II of Scots, the Saxon claimant Edgar the Aetheling, brother of Queen Margaret of Scots, travels to Normandy to submit to the Norman King William the Conqueror.
Maelsnechtai, Mormaer and 'King' of Moray, and son of King Lulach, is expelled from his territory by Malcolm III.
King Malcolm III of Scots invades England and raids the lands of Walcher, Norman Bishop of Durham, who has controlled the Earldom of Northumbria for William the Conqueror since the forfeiture of the Saxon Earl Waltheof in 1076. Walcher is killed by the local people in May 1080.
Death of Maelsnechtai, Mormaer and 'King' of Moray, the son of King Lulach.
Prince Duncan, eldest son of King Malcolm III by his first wife Ingebourg of Orkney, is released after 15 years of captivity and knighted by Robert "Curthose" eldest son of William the Conqueror of England.
King Malcolm III invades Northumbria while William II of England is absent in Maine.
King William II of England's fleet is wrecked off the mouth of the Tyne while en route to invade Scotland.
Following negotiations to avoid outright war between England and Scotland, King Malcolm III agress to pay homage and swears fealty to William II of England. William II promises Malcolm 12 English villages and the sum of 12 merks a year.
Death of King Malcolm III of Scots and Prince Edward, his eldest son by Queen Margaret at Durham. They are ambushed by followers of Robert de Mowbray, earl of Northumberland with Malcolm III being killed by Mowbray's nephew, Arkil Morel. Malcolm III is succeeded by his younger brother, Donald III (Bain).
Death of Queen Margaret, wife of Malcolm III of Scots.
Duncan, the eldest son of Malcolm III by his first wife Ingeborg of Orkney, defeats his uncle Donald III (Bain) in battle. Donld III is deposed and Duncan and becomes Duncan II, King of Scots.
King Duncan II is murdered by Mael Peter, Mormaer of the Maerns a supporter of deposed King Donald III. Donald III becomes King of Scots for the second time. He rules directly in the north with his nephew and designated heir, or tainist, Edmund I, Malcolm IV's second son by Margaret, ruling as his deputy in the south.
King Donald III of Scots allies himself with Robert de Mowbray, Earl of Norhumberland against William II of England. The English King proclaims that Edgar, second son of King Mlcolm III by his second wife, is King of Scots.
King Donald III and King Edmund I are defeated in battle at Rescobie. Donald III's nephew Edgar becomes King of Scots. The campaign was led by Edgar's maternal uncle, Edgar the Aetheling, son of Edward the Exile and grandson of Edmund II of England. Edgar the Aetheling was proclaimed King of England by the Saxon Witengemot in London in 1066 after the death of King Harold at Hastings.
King Edgar of Scots negociates an alliance with King Magnus "Barefoot" of Norway.
Death of the deposed King Donald III, brother of Malcolm III, who was blinded upon the orders of his nephew King Edgar.
Princess Edith, sister of King Edgar of Scots, marries King Henry I of England and takes the name Matilda.
Princess Mary, sister of King Edgar of Scots, marries Eustance III, Count of Boulogne.
Death of King Edgar I of Scots. He is succeeded by his younger brothers: Alexander becomes King of Scots and rules north of the Forth and Clyde. David becomes Prince of Cumbria and rules to the south of the Forth and Clyde, but remains under Alexander's authority.
King Alexander I of Scots marries Sybilla, illegitimate daughter of Henry I of England.
King Alexander I of Scots crushes a rebellion in Moray.
Prince David of Scotland marries Maud de Senlis, 2 nd Countess of Huntingdon, daughter of Waltheof, 1 st Earl of Huntingdon, who was executed by William the Conqueror in 1076.
Malcolm, infant son of Prince David, Earl of Huntingdon and second in line to the Scots throne, is murdered by a priest.
Birth of Henry, 3 rd Earl of Huntingdon, son of the future King David I and father of the future kings Malcom IV and William I and David Earl of Huntington.
King Alexander I of Scots founds an Augustan Priory at Scone.
King Alexander I of Scots makes Berwick-Upon-Tweed the first Royal Burgh of Scotland.
Death of Queen Sibilla, wife of King Alexander I of Scots and illegitimate daughter of Henry I of England, at Loch Tay. The couple had no children.
Death of King Alexander I of Scots. He is succeeded by his younger brother, Prince David, Earl of Huntingdon and Prince of Cumbria.
King David I is inaugurated as King of Scots at Scone. He later bestows lands in Annandale to Robert de Brus.
Following the death of King Edward II, uncrowned king of England, his nephew King David I of Scots becomes legitimate heir to the Anglo Saxon kingdom as the only remaining male descendant of King Aethelred II.
King David transmits his rights to the Anglo Saxon Kingdom of England to his neice, the Empress Matilda (or Maud), who is also the sole heir of her father, the Norman King Henry I.
King David I of Scots founds Holyrood Abbey.
Maelsnechtai, Mormaer and last 'King' of Moray, the son of a daughter of King Lulach, is killed in battle against a Scots army led by Edward Siwardson. Moray is reincorporated into the Kingdom of Scots.
Death of Queen Maud, Countess of Huntingdon in her own right and wife of King David I, at Scone.
At Northampton, the barons of England renew their allegiance to Maitilda, daughter of Henry I of England and neice of King David I of Scots.
Malcolm MacHeth, Earl of Ross, illegitimate son of King Alexander I of Scots, is imprisoned at Roxburgh Castle.
Treaty of Durham. King David I of Scots and Stephen, Count of Blois, claimant of the throne of England, sign a treaty settling disputes over the ownership of land in England: Stephen retains Northumberland, but confirms Prince Henry, heir apparant to the Scots throne, and son of Queen Maud, Countess of Huntingdon in her own right , as 3 rd Earl of Huntingdon.
Glasgow cathedral is consecrated in the presence of King David I of Scots.
King David I again invades England in support of the claims of his neice the Empress Matilda to be monarch of England rather than Stephen, Count of Blois. Battle of Clitheroe. Scots under William Fitz William, son of King Duncan II, defeat an English army.
Battle of the Standard. Scots under King David I are defeated by the English under Thurstan, Archbishop of York near at Cowton Moor near Northallerton. 12,000 Scots are killed.
Treaty of Carlisle. Alberic, Bishop of Ostia and Papal Legate, negotiates a peace treaty between King David I of Scots and Stephen, Count of Blois, claimant of the throne of England.
The Scots take Wark Castle from the English.
The independence of Scotland is confirmed in the second treaty of Durham, signed by King David I of Scots and Stephen, Count of Blois, claimant of the throne of England. Prince Henry, heir apparant to the Scots throne, is granted the Earldom of Northumberland. Scotland already posesses Cumberland as part of the ancient kingdom of Strathclyde. In return, King David I of Scots withdraws his support for his neice, the Empress Matilda, and recognises Stephen of Blois as King of England.
Birth of the future King Malcolm IV of Scots.
King David I of Scots invades England in support of his neice, the Empress Matilda.
Battle of Winchester. The Empress Matilda's army, led by her half brother, the Earl of Gloucester, and accompanied by King David I of Scotsand six earls, is defeated and routed by the army of Queen Matilda, led by William of Ypres. Queen Mathilda is the wife of Stephen of Blois and the daughter of King David I's sister Mary.
Treaty of Carlisle. King David I of Scots knights his great nephew Henry Plantagenet. Henry recognises that Cumberland and Northumberland are part of Scotland.
Death of Prince Henry, Earl of Huntingdon &, Northumbria and heir apparent of the Scots throne, at Roxburgh or Newcastle. He is buried at Kelso Abbey.
King David I of Scots dies at Carlisle, aged 68. He is succeeded by his grandson, Malcolm IV, 'the Maiden'.
King Malcolm IV inaugurated as King of Scots at Scone.
Somerled, Lord of Argyll & the Isles, and his nephews, sons of Malcolm MacHeth, Earl of Ross, claimant to the Scots throne, invade Scotland in support of their claim.
At Woodstock, King Malcolm IV of Scots pays homage to King Henry II of England for his lands in England, and those alone.
King Malcolm IV of Scots dies at Jedburgh, aged 25. He is succeeded by his brother William I, later known as 'the Lion'.
King William the Lion is inaugurated as King of Scots at Scone.
At London, King William the Lion pays homage to King Henry II of England and Henry "the Young King" for his lands in England, and those alone.
A 400 strong force of English knights surprise King William the Lion and 60 knights rseting near Alnwick castle and capture the king after a fierce fight.
Treaty of Falaise. William I of Scots accepts King Henry II of England as his feudal overlord. Major Scottish castles are to be handed over to the English. The Scots church is to be subject to the rule of the English church. The earldom of Huntingdon is to be returned to English rule.
At York, King William the Lion and leading Scots nobles and clergy swear loyalty to King Henry II of England. Earl David of Hungtingdon, heir apparant to the Scots throne is to be held in England as a hostage.
Pope Alexander III upholds the Scottish church's refusal to submit to English rule. Archbishop Roger of York is forbidden from exercising any authority over bishops of the Scottish church.
David, Earl of Hungtingdon, heir presumptive to the Scots throne, attends a tournament in Lagni, France to celebrate the ascension of Philippe II as King of France.
Conference in England between King Henry II of England, Kin Philippe II of France and King William the Lion. Henry II invests his son Henry "the Young King" as Duke of Normandy.
During the absence of King William the Lion in England, Donald MacWilliam, grandson of King Donald II of Scots, and claimant of the Scots throne, invades Ross with the support of Maddason, Earl of Orkney.
King William the Lion, who was excommunicated in 1181 by Pope Lucius III for efusing to accept John the Scot as Bishop of St Andrews, is readmitted to the Church of Rome. The Pope gifts the King a golden rose of honour.
At Woodstock, King William the Lion marries Emengarde de Beaumont, a cousin of Henry II of England.
Roland of Galloway, who was inaugurated as Lord of Galloay in 1186, presents King William the Lion with the head of Donald MacWilliam, grandson of King Donald II of Scots, and claimant of the Scots throne.
Pope Clement III confirms that the Scottish Church is not under the authority of the nearest archdiocese - that of York in England - which had been claiming superiority over Scotland.
Treaty of Canterbury. Richard I of England sells back Scotland's independence for 10,000 silver marks, ending 15 years of English overlordship.
David, Earl of Huntingdon and heir presumptive to the Scots throne, marries Matilda, sister of Ranulf, Earl of Chester.
Celestine III's Papal Bull Cum universi declares that the Scots church is directly subject to the Pope.
During a serious illness, King William the Lion declares that, providing he marries his eldest daughter, the Scots throne should go to Otto, son of Henry V, Duke of Saxony & Bavaria.
Birth of the future King Alexander II of Scots at Haddington.
At Lincoln, King William the Lion meets King John of England and resserts his claim to Northumberland.
At Musselburgh, the Scots nobles swear homage to Prince Alexander, the three year old heir apparant to the Scots throne.
Treaty of Norham. King William the Lion meets King John of England at Norham Castle and renounces is claim to Northumberland. 10,000 pounds is to be paid to Englands in compensation. Princess Margaret of Scots is to marry prince Henry of England, while Princess Isabel of Scots is to marry another English noble.
Death of King William I of Scots at Stirling, aged 71, after a reign of 49 years. He is later burried at Arbroath Abbey. He is succeeded by his son Alexander II.
King Alexander II of Scots is inaugurated at Scone.
Donald Ban MacWilliam and Kenneth MacHeth, claimants to the Scots throne, are killed in battle in the Grampian region.
The northern barons of England renounce their allegiance to King John and swear homage to King Alexander II of Scots at Norham Castle.
At Dover, King Alexander II of Scots pays homage for the northern counties of England to King Louis of England, son of King Philippe of France. Louis was hailed as King of England in place of King John on the 26 th May 1216.
King Alexander II of Scots pays homage for his lands in England, and for those alone, to King Henry III of England.
Pope Honorius III publishes a Papal Bull confirming the independence of the Scottish Church.
Death of David, Earl of Hungtingdon, uncle and heir presumptive of King Alexander II of Scots.
King Alexander II of Scots marries Princess Joan, daughter of John of England, at York.
Princess Margaret, sister of King Alexander II of Scots marries Hubert de Burgh, Eatl of Kent, at York.
A rebellion in Argyll against the rule of King Alexander II of Scots is crushed.
At Haukirk, Adam, Bishop of Orkney is murdered, allegedly upon the orders of John, Earl of Orkney.
Death of John de Scotia, Earl of Huntingdon & Chester, without children, aged 30. He was the cousin and heir presumptive of King Alexander II. His nephew Robert Bruce, 5 th Lord of Annandale becomes heir presumptive.
Death of Queen Joan.
King Alexander II of Scots marries Marie, daughter of Enguerrand III, Lord of Coucy.
Birth of the future King Alexander III at Roxburgh castle.
Treaty of Newcastle, a mutual peace treaty between Scotland and England.
Death of King Alexander II of Scots at the island of Kerrera near Oban. He is succeeded by his son Alexander III.
King Alexander III of Scots is inaugurated at Scone.
King Alexander III of Scots marries Princess Margaret, daughter of Henry III of England.
Birth of Princess Margaret, heir presumptive to the kingdom of Scots.
Birth of Prince Alexander, heir apparant to the kingdom of Scots.
Battle of Largs. Scots under King Alexander III defeat the Norwegians under King Haakon.
Treaty of Perth. The Hebrides and the Isle of Man are ceded from Norway to Scotland by King Magnus IV.
Birth of Prince David, second son of Alexander III.
Birth of Robert Bruce, future King Robert I of Scots.
King Alexander III of Scots declares to Edward I of England 'No man has a right to homage for my kingdom of Scotland save God alone, nor do I hold it except of God alone.'
Death of Prince David, second son of King Alexander III of Scots.
The marriage contract between King Eric II of Norway and Margaret, daughter of Alexander III of Scots states that Margaret and any children she should have would inherit the Scots throne should Alexander II die without a male heir.
Prince Alexander, heir apparent to King Alexander III of Scots, marries Margheritain, daughter of the Count of Flanders.
Death of Prince Alexander, heir apparent to King Alexander III of Scots. His sister, Queen Margaret of Norway becomes heir presumptive.
Death of Queen Margaret of Norway, daughter and heir presumptive to King Alexander III of Scots. Her daughter, Margaret the 'Maid of Norway' becomes heir presumptive.
King Alexander III of Scots marries Yolande, daughter of Robert IV, Count of Dreux at Jedburgh Abbey.
Death of King Alexander III of Scots at Kinghorn in Fife. His granddaughter, Margaret the 'Maid of Norway' becomes Queen of Scots.
The Scots parliament meets at Scone to chose Guardians of the realm (two earls, two lord and two bishops). Those chosen were: Donnchadh III, Earl of Fife (died in 1288), Alexander Comyn, Earl of Buchan, James Stewart, 5th High Steward of Scotland, John II Comyn, Lord of Badenoch, William Fraser, Bishop of Saint Andrews and Robert Wishart, Bishop of Glasgow.
The Guardians meet at Clackmannan to witness the birth of King Alexander III's posthumous child. It is presumed to have been still born.
Death of Queen Margaret of Scots at Orkney. Called 'the Maid of Norway' she was the daughter of King Eric II of Norway and his wife Margaret, the daughter of King Alexander III of Scots. She is the last direct successor of King Alexander II.
Pope Gregory X publishes a Papal Bull overturns the independence of the Scottish Church and grants the right to appoint clergy to Edward I of England.
Hearings at Norham castle to determine who has the best rights to the vacant throne of Scots. The court consists of 24 auditors appointed by Edward I of England, 40 by Robert Bruce, Lord of Annandale, and 40 chosen by John Balliol, Lord of Galloway.
The court of auditors deelare that John Balliol, Lord of Galloway has best rights to the Kingdom of Scots.
Robert Bruce, Lord of of Annandale, resigns his claim to his son, Robert Bruce, Earl of Carrick.
Robert Bruce, Earl of Carrick, resigns the earldom to his son, Robert Bruce, grandson of the "Competitor", and future King Robert I "the Bruce".
Edward I of England declares that John Balliol, Lord of Galloway has best rights to the Kingdom of Scots.
John Balliol is crowned as King of Scots at Scone. However, he uses the title 'King of Scotland', the only native King ever to use that style.
King John of Scotland pays homage to King Edward I of England as his feudal superior.
Death of Robert Bruce, Lord of Annandale and grandfather of Robert 'the Bruce'. He had been recognised as the heir presumptive to the kingdom of Scots by Alexander II but Edward I of England chose John Balliol in his place.
The Auld Alliance. Treaty of mutual aid signed between King John Baliol and King Philippe IV of France.
Carlisle is attacked by the King John Balliol's army under the High Constable, John Comyn, Earl of Buchan. The city is defended by Robert Bruce, Lord of Annandale, the father of Robert 'the Bruce'.
Berwick-Upon-Tweed, Scotland's largest seaport, is captured by the English forces under Edward I. The defenders and inhabitants are massacred.
First Battle of Dunbar. Scots forces under King John I are defeated by a smaller, highly trained and experienced English force under King Edward I of England.
John Balliol abdicates as 'King of Scotland'l. He was the only native monarch to describe himself as such rather than 'King of Scots'.
The Stone of Scone is removed from Scone Abbey by King Edward I of England. Many believe that this is not the Stone of Destiny, upon which Scots Kings were crowned, but merely a lump of local sandstone which was left in the true stone's place.
Battle of Stirling Bridge. Scots forces under Andrew Murray and William Wallace defeat a superior English force under John de Warenne, Earl of Surrey and Hugh Cressingham.
William Wallace and Andrew Moray write to the Hanseatic League as joint commanders of the army.
William Lamberton becomes Bishop of St Andrews and primate of the Scottish Church.
Battle of Falkirk. Scots forces under the Guardian, Sir William Wallace, are defeated by a superior English force under King Edward I.
Scimus fili. A Bull by Pope Boniface VII declares Edward I of England's annexation of Scotland to be legal.
The Scotts parliament, meeting at Scone, agrees to renew the Auld Alliance with France.
John Lord Comyn, Guardian of Scotland, surrenders the kingdom to Edward I of England.
Sir William Wallace, previous Guardian of Scotland is catpured at Robroyston and taken to London.
Sir William Wallace, previous Guardian of Scotland is executed at Smithsfield Square in London on the orders of Edward I of England.
Robert the Bruce, Earl of Carrick kills John Lord Comyn in Greyfriar's Monastery after a disagreement.
Robert the Bruce, Earl of Carrick, is crowned as Robert I, King of Scots.
Robert the Bruce, Earl of Carrick, is crowned again, by the Countess of Buchan, the sister of the Earl of Fife, hereditary enthroner of the Kings of Scots.
Battle of Methven. Scots forces under Robert I, King of Scots are defeated by the English under the Earl of Pembroke.
Battle of Dalry. Scots forces under Robert I, King of Scots are defeated by the Lord of Lorn's MacDougals.
Battle of Loudoun Hill. Scots forces under Robert I, King of Scots defeat a superior English force under the Earl of Pembroke.
The first parliament of Robert the Bruce, King of Scots, is held at St Andrews.
Treaty of Inverness. King Robert the Bruce signs a treaty with Norway, where his sister Isabel is Queen, ratifying the 1266 Treaty of Perth.
Sir James Dougas retakes Roxburgh Castle from the English.
Sir Thomas Randolph retakes Edinburgh Castle from the English.
Battle of Bannockburn. Scots forces under Robert I, King of Scots defeat a superior English force under King Edward II.
The Scots parliament appoints Edward Bruce, Earl of Carrick, as heir presumptive to his brother King Robert I, King of Scots.
Robert Stewart, later King Robert II of Scots, is born prematurely at Renfrew. His mother, Marjorie Bruce, daughter of King Robert I, dies after a fall while riding.
Berwick-Upon-Tweed is regained for the Scots by Thomas Randolph, Earl of Moray.
Battle of Dundalk in Ireland. Edward Bruce, High King of Ireland, and heir presumptive to his brother King Robert I, King of Scots, is killed in the battle.
Battle of Myton. Scots forces under Thomas Randolph, Earl of Moray defeat English forces in Yorkshire.
A truce for two years is agreed between Scotland and England.
The Declaration of Arbroath is sent to the Pope. The document sets out the Sovereignty of the Scottish people by placing their will above the wishes of the King.
Battle of Byland. Scots forces under King Robert I defeat English forces in Yorkshire.
Birth of David Brice, later King David II of Scots.
The Scottish Parliament passes an act to introduce taxes to support King David II.
Treaty of Edinburgh. Edward III of England recognises Scotland's independence.
Treaty of Edinburgh is ratified at Northhampton.
Death of Robert the Bruce (King Robert I of Scots) at Cardross.
Sir James Douglas is killed in battle in Andalusia while carrying Robert the Bruce's heart on a crusade. The heart is recovered and buried at Melrose Abbey.
Coronation of King David II at Scone.
Battle of Annan. Scots forces under Sir Archibald Douglas defeat English forces under Edward Baliol, pretender to the Scots crown.
Edward Baliol, pretender to the Scots throne, is crowned by the English at Scone.
Henry Baliol, younger brother of Edward Baliol, pretender to the Scots throne, is slain at Annan.
Battle of Dupplin Moor. Scots forces under the Regent the Earl of Mar are defeated by English forces under Edward Baliol, pretender to the Scots crown.
Edward Baliol, pretender to the Scots throne, flees from Scotland.
Battle of Halidon Hill. Scots forces under Sir Archibald Douglas are defeated by English forces under King Edward III and Edward Baliol.
Battle of Neville's Cross. Scots forces under David II are defeated by English forces.
Treaty of Berwick. David II of Scots is freed after 11 years for a ranseome of £100,000.
Death of David II, second and last King of the House of Bruce.
Coronation of Robert Stewart, Earl of Atholl & Strathearn, High Steward of Scotland and grandson of Robert the Bruce, as King Robert II.
Treaty of Vincennes. The Franco-Scottish alliance is renewed.
The Scottish parliament at Scone proposes that John, Earl of Carrick should succeed his father, Robert II as Robert III.
Battle of Otterburn. Scots forces under James, second Earl of Douglas and George Earl of Dunbar defeat English forces under Lord Percy.
Death of Robert II at Dundonald.
Coronation of John Stewart, Earl of Carrick, eldest son of Robert II as King Robert III.
Battle of North Inch. 30 of Clan Chattan beat 30 men of Clan MacKay.
King Robert III creates Scotland's first two dukes. His brother, also namesd Robert, becomes 1 st Duke of Albany and his son, David, the first Duke of Rothesay.
Death of David, Duke of Rothesay, heir apparant to the Scots throne while a prisoner of his uncle, Robert Duke of Albany at Falkand Castle.
Battle of Homildon Hill. Scots forces under the Earl of Douglas are defeated by English forces under Lord Percy.
James, Duke of Rothesay is captured by the English while en route to France. He remains in captivity for 18 years.
Death of Robert III at Dundonald. Robert, Duke of Albany assumes power as Regent of Scotland.
Battle of Harlaw. Royalist forces under the Earl of Mar defeat Highlanders under Donald Lord of the Isles.
Pope Benedict XIII publishes a Papal Bull ratifing the founding of St Andrews University.
Death of Robert, Duke of Albany, Regent of Scotland. His son, Murdoch, 2 nd Duke of Albany succeeds him as Regent.
Battle of Baugé in France. Scots under John Earl of Buchan defeat English troops led by the Duke of Clarence, Regent of France for his brother the King of Engand. Clarence is killed in the battle, which is rated as Scotland's greatest victory over the English after Bannockburn and Stirling Bridge.
Treaty of London. Terms are agreed for the release of King James I of Scots after 18 years of captivity in England.
Coronation of James I at Scone.
The Scots Parliament nationalises gold and silver mines.
Battle of Verneuil in France. Scots under John, 3 rd Earl of Buchan, Constable of France and Archibald Earl of Douglas are defeated by English troops led by the Duke of Bedford. The Earl of Buchan is killed in the battle.
Murdoch Stewart, 2 nd Duke of Albany and ex-Regent of Scotland is beheaded and attainted.
Birth of the future King James II at Holyrood.
Battle of Piperden. Scots under William 2 nd Earl of Angus defeat English troops led by Lord Percy.
Assassination of James I at Perth by his uncle Walter, Earl of Atholl, Sir Robert Graham and other conspirators.
Coronation of James II.
Walter Stewart, Earl of Atholl, sixth son of Robert III, is executed and attainted for organising the assassination of his nephew, James I.
Pope Nicolas V grants a bull founding a second Scottish University at Glasgow.
Birth of the future King James III.
Battle of Arkinholm. Fall of the Black Douglases. Rebels under the 9 th Earl of Douglas are defeated by Royalist troops.
The Scots Parliament passes an act promoting archery and arms practice and banning football and golf.
King James II is killed when a cannon explodes during the seige of Roxburgh castle. The Queen is also wounded.
Coronation of James III at Kelso.
Orkney & Shetland become part of Scotland as dowry for Queen Margaret, daughter of Christian I of Norway & Denmark.
Pope Sixtus VIV makes St Andrews an Archdiocese.
Birth of the future King James IV.
The Scots Parliament renews the Auld Alliance with France.
Battle of Sauchieburn. Rebel forces under James Duke of Rothesay defeat the Royal troops under James III who is murdered after the battle.
Coronation of James IV.
The Scots Parliament confirms the Auld Alliance with France.
Pope Innocent VII makes Glasgow an Archdiocese.
A Papal Bull from Pope Alexander VI confirms the foundation of Scotland third University at Aberdeen.
The Scottish Parliament of James II, King of Scots rules that time should be spent at military training and that "football and golf be utterly cried down and not used".
Pope Alexander VI issues a Papal Bull confirming the marriage of James IV, King of Scots and Margaret Tudor, daughter of King Henry VII of England.
The Union of the Thistle and the Rose. James IV, King of Scots, marries Margaret Tudor, daughter of King Henry VII of England. This eventually leads to the Union of the Crowns in 1603 and the Union of the Pariaments in 1707.
Birth of the future King James V.
Battle of Flodden. Death of James IV, King of Scots, many of the nobility and the flower of Scotland.
Coronation of James Duke of Rothesay at Stirling as James V of Scots.
The Scottish Parliaments resolves to depose the Regent, the second Duke of Albany, if he does not return from France.
England declares war on Scotland and France.
The Court of Session, the highest civil court in Scotland, is established by James IV, King of Scots.
James V marries Princess Madelaine, daughter of King Franç of France.
The Privy Council of James V, King of Scots passes a law recognising the Gypsy Kingdom of Little Egypt in Scotland with Johnnie Faw as king.
The Battle of Hadden Rig. The Scots army under the Earl of Moray defeat the English under Sir Robert Bowes.
Birth of Mary Queen of Scots at Linlithgow Palace.
Death of King James V at Falkland Palace.
The Treaty of Greenwich. Henry VIII and the Earl of Arran, as Regent of Scotland, agree that Mary, Queen of Scots, should marry Edward Prince of Wales. The Scottish parliament refuses to ratify the treaty.
The Treaty of Hadington. Mary, Queen of Scots, is bethrothed to François, the Dauphin of France, son of Henry II of France and grandson of François I.
Coronation of Mary Queen of Scots at Stirling Castle.
The Battle of Ancrum Moor. The Scots army under the Earl of Angus defeat the English under Sir Ralph Eure and Sir Brian Layton.
David Beaton, Cardinal and Archbishop of St Andrews is murderd at St Andrews Castle.
The Battle of Pinkie. The Scots army under the Regent, the 2 nd Earl of Arran are defeated by the English under the Duke of Somerset.
The Rough Wooing. The English Regent, the Earl of Hereford, invades Scotland
Mary Queen of Scots marries François the Dauphin of France.
Second Treaty of Berwick. English assistance is given to the Protestant Lords to attack the French forces of the Regent and Queen Mother, Marie de Guise.
Death of Mary of Guise, mother of Mary Queen of Scots and Regent of Scotland.
The Scots parliament abolishes the Pope's jurisdiction and established the Presbetyrian faith as the official religion of Scotland.
Death of François II of France, first husband of Mary Queen of Scots.
First General Assembly of the Church of Scotland. The present Assembly Hall was the home of the devolved Scottish parliament from 1999 until 2004.
Mary Queen of Scots returns to Sotland and lands at Leith.
Battle of Corrichie. James Earl of Moray and Royalist troops defeat rebels under George Gordon, 4 th Earl of Huntly, who dies in the battle.
Mary Queen of Scots marries her cousin Henry, Lord Darnley, son of the Earl of Lennox and through his mother, second in line to the English throne.
Murder of David Riccio at Holyrood Palace.
Birth of James Stuart, later James VI, at Edinburgh Castle.
Murder of Henry, Lord Darnley, Lord Ardmanach, Earl of Ross, Duke of Albany and Titualar King of Scots at Kirk o' Field near Edinburgh.
Mary Queen of Scots is imprisoned in Loch Leven castle.
Mary Queen of Scots is forced to abdicate by rebellious nobles.
James Duke of Rothesay, aged 13 months, is crowned as King James VI at Stirling Castle.
Mary Queen of Scots escapes from her imprisonment at Loch Leven Castle.
Battle of Langside. Royalist forces under Mary Queen of Scots are defeated by the rebels.
Mary Queen of Scots crosses the Solway to begin a 20 year exile in England.
James Stewart, Earl of Moray and Regent of Scotland, is assassinated by Hamilton of Bothwellhaugh. Matthew, 13 th Earl of Lennox and grandfather of King James VI succeeds him as Regent of Scotland
Matthew, 13 th Earl of Lennox, and Regent of Scotland, dies of wounds inflicted in an attack by the Earl of Huntly and Lord Claud Hamilton.
John Erskine, 1 st Earl of Mar & 5 th Lord Erskine, is appointed as Regent of Scotland.
Death of John Erskine, Earl of Mar and Regent of Scotland. James Douglas, 4 th Earl of Morton succeeds him as Regent.
The first Bible is printed in Scotland.
Dunbar disaster. The herring fleet of 60 boats is lost during a hurricane. 300 lose their lives.
James Douglas, 4 th Earl of Morton and Regent of Scotland from 1572 - 1578, is executed for High Treason using the Maiden, a guillotine which he himself designed.
Mary Queen of Scots is executed at Fotheringay Castle on the orders of her cousin Elisabeth of England.
The Scottish Parliament passes an Act 'concerning the Office of Lyoun King of Armes and his brether Heraldis'.
Battle of Glenlivit. Catholic forces lead by the 4 th Earl of Huntly defeat Royalist troops under the 7 th Earl of Argyll.
Treaty of Boulogne. England's war against France and Scotland ends.
New Year was celebrated for the first time on this date. Previously the year had been considered to start on the 25 th of March. England continued to use the old system until 1752. This has the potential to cause confusion in documents prior to 1600, and English documents from 1600 to 1752. eg the day the Treaty of Union was ratified was the 25 th January 1707 in Scotland but in England, where the old system was still in use, the date was the 17 th January 1706.
Birth of Charles Stuart, later Charles I, at Dunfermline Palace.
Union of the Crowns of Scotland & England. James VI, King of Scots succeeds his cousin Elizabeth of England.
King James VI leaves Edinburgh for London and becomes an absentee Monarch, only returning once to Scotland in 1617. From this date, Scotland is governed from London via the Scottish Privy Council.
The Scottish Privy Council recommends the establishment of schools in every Scottish parish, and also that Gaelic should cease to be used.
James VI returns to visit Scotland for the only time.
King James VI dies and is succeeded by his son Charles, Duke of Rothesay, who is not crowned as King of Scots until 1633.
Birth of Charles Stuart, later Charles II.
Coronation of King Charles I of Scots at Holyrood.
The National Covenant, which aims to protect the Church of Scotland against English reforms, is signed by many nobles including the earls of Montrose and Argyll. Thousands of others later sign copies of the document.
Charles I concedes to the Covenant while presiding over the Scottish Parliament in Edinburgh.
Solemn League and Covenant against King Charles I is signed.
Battle of Tippermuir. Royalist forces under James Grahame, 1 st Marquis of Montrose defeat the Covenanters under Lord Elcho.
Battle of Inverlochy. Royalist forces under James Grahame, 1 st Marquis of Montrose defeat the Covenanters under the Earl of Argyll.
Battle of Auldearn. Royalist forces under James Grahame, 1 st Marquis of Montrose defeat the Covenanters under Hurry.
Battle of Kilsyth. Royalist forces under James Grahame, 1 st Marquis of Montrose rout the Covenanters under William Baillie.
Battle of Philiphaugh. Royalist forces under James Grahame, 1 st Marquis of Montrose are defeated by Covenanters under Sir David Leslie.
King Charles I of Scos surrenders to the Scots army at Newark.
The Scots army hands over King Charles I to English Parliamentary forces.
The English parliament executes King Charles I at Whitehall without consulting the Scottish Parliament.
Charles, Duke of Rothesay, in exile at the Hague, is proclaimed King Charles II of Scots by the Scottish parliament in Edinburgh.
James, 1st Duke of Hamilton is executed in London.
James Graham, 1 st Marquis of Montrose, and Captain General of Scotland for King Charles II, is executed in Edinburgh by the Covenanters.
English forces under Oliver Cromwell invade Scotland.
English forces led by Oliver Cromwell defeat the Scots under David Leslie at the Battle of Dunbar.
Charles II is crowned at Scone, the last coronation on Scottish soil of a King of Scots.
Cromwell defeats the Scottish forces under Sir David Leslie at the battle of Worcester. Charles II flees to France after the battle.
General Monck is appointed as England's Military Governor of Scotland. Scotland, effectively conquered by England, is to be part of a Parliamentary Union during the Commonwealth and Protectorate, although the Union does not become law until 1654. The announced Tender of Union would give the Scots 30 seats in the UK parliament at London. Meanwhile, Scottish affairs are managed by eight Commissioners appinted by the English Parliament. After 1655, this is replaced by a Council of State with nine members, two of them Scots.
Scotland, under English military occupation, is declared a republic. The English squire, Oliver Cromwell, becomes Lord Protector of Scotland.
Ordinance for the Union of Scotland and England are read at Westminster.
Scotland is united with England into a single Commonwealth.
General Monck proclaims the Union of Scotland and England at the Mercat Cross in Edinburgh.
Death of Oliver Cromwell, the Lord Protector. He is succeeded in office by his son Richard.
Richard Cromwell resigns as Lord Protector. Anarchy reigns.
General George Monck, the Military Governor of Scotland, marches his troops to London to restore order.
End of the Republic and Commonwealth. Charles Stuart is once more proclaimed Charles II of Scots.
James Duke of Monmouth, eldest and only legitimate son of Charles II, marries Anne Scott, Countess of Buccleuch in her own right. Their descendents, the Dukes of Buccleuch, are the rightful heirs of Charles II and the Kingdom of Scots.
The Scottish Parliament meets and revokes all acts passed since 1633.
Birth of Anne Stuart, the last reigning monarch of the Stewart line.
'Battle of Rullion Glen'. General Tam Dalyell and 3,000 government troops attack protest marchers, killing a number and hanging prisoners.
James Sharpe, Archbishop of St Andrews and Primate of the Church of Scotland, is murdered by Covenanters.
Battle of Drumclog. The Covenanters defeat Royalist troops lead by James Graham of Claverhouse, Viscount Dundee.
Battle of Bothwell Bridge. The Duke of Monmouth & Buccleuch, eldest son of Charles II, defeats the Covenanters lead by Balfour of Burleigh and Hackson of Rathillet.
James, Duke of Albany & York, younger brother of Charles II, and later King James VII, is appointed Viceroy of Scotland.
Death of Charles II, King of Scots. He is succeeded by his brother James, Duke of Albany who becomes James VII of Scots but never takes the Scottish coronation oath.
The Order of the Thistle, said to have been originally founded in AD 787 by Achaius, King of Scots, is revived by King James VII.
Birth of James Francis Edward Stuart, known as James VIII to the Jacobites and the Old Pretender to the Hanovarians.
King James VII is deposed os King of England by his nephew and son-in-law, William, Prince of Orange.
The Scottish Convention of Estates (Parliament) meets in Edinburgh and issues the Claim of Right. This establishes constitutional principles and secures the right of appeal to the mnarch and to Parliament. However the document is unclear and is contested by those who declare that the monarch has a Divine Right to rule.
The Estates declare that James VII has forfeited the Scottish throne. William of Orange and his wife Mary are appointed joint King and Queen of Scots as William II and Mary II.
James Claverhouse, Viscount Dundee, raises the Royal standard at Dundee for King James VII of Scots.
William of Orange and Mary Stuart are appointed to reign jointly as William II and Mary II, but take the titles King and Queen 'of Scotland' rather than 'of Scots'. They never visit Scotland and reign as absentee monarchs.
The loyalist Royal (Jacobite) forces beat the government army under General Mackay at the battle of Killiecrankie. However, the Jacobite leader, James Graham of Claverhouse, Viscount Dundee, is killed in the final stages of the battle.
Battle of Cromdale. The government army defeats Royalist troops supporting James VII of Scots.
The Scottish Parliament rejects Episcopacy and the Presbetarian church is established as the official religion.
Glencoe massacre. Thirty-eight MacIan MacDonalds of Glencoe are massacred by government troops under the command of Captain Robert Campbell of Glenlyon. The order was dictated by Sir John Dalrymple, Master of Stair, and signed, not once, but twice, by William of Orange.
Following discontent with the rule of William of Orange and Mary Stuart, William institutes an Assurance by which all office bearers must acknowledge his as de jure as well as de facto King.
Death of Mary II, Queen 'of Scotland'. Her husband, William of Orange continues to reign as sole monarch, rather than Mary's younger sister Anne.
William of Orange recognises his sister-in-law, Anne Stuart, the daughter of King James VII, as heir presumptive.
The Company of Scotland is founded and given a monopoly for all Scottish trade with North America, Africa, and Asia.
The Scottish Parliament establishes the General Post Office.
The Scottish Parliament establishes the Bank of Scotland, which has a banking monopoly until the Royal Bank of Scotland is established by Hanovarian sympathisers, in 1727.
The Darien Expedition sets sail from the port of Leith.
The Scottish Parliament passes the Education Act for the setting up of schools in every parish with the teachers to be paid by the landowners.
The Scottish Parliament abolishes Episcopacy.
Three ships of the Company of Scotland arrive at Darien in Panama to found the first Scottish colony.
The English in Jamaica refuse to assist the Scots settlers in Darien against a Spanish threat, having been given express orders from London. Of 1,200 original settlers, only 300 returned to Scotland alive.
A second expedition arrives at Darien to find it has been abandoned.
The English parliament discusses union with Scotland. Sir Edward Sewmour, Tory leader of the House of Commons declares 'Scotland is a beggar and whoever married a beggar could only expect a louse for her portion.'
The new settlers at Darien defeat an attack by Spanish troops.
Darien surrenders to the Spanish.
King William II signs a treaty with Louis XIV of France for the partition of Spanish possessions without consulting the Scottish or English parliaments.
Darien is abandoned for the second time. The English again refuse to help the survivors.
The Scottish parliament threatens to withold funds from King William II, who is believed to be behind the English refusal to assist the Scots at Darien.
Death of William, Duke of Gloucester, only surviving child of Princess Anne, declared heiress presumptive to the throne by William of Orange.
Confirmation is received in Scotland that the Darien Expedition has been a financial and human disaster.
The English Act of Settlement bans Roman Catholics from the British throne. The Scottish Parliament is not consulted.
King James VII of Scots dies at Saint Germain-en-Laye in France. Louis XIV of France recognises his son, James Duke of Rothessay, as King James VIII.
The English parliament passes the Abjuration Act which requires all office holders to recognise William of Orange (William III of England) as King.
William of Orange dies and is succeeded as the de facto monarch of Scotland by his sister-in-law Anne, the daughter of King James VII. In England, the Tories take over government from the Whigs.
Anne Stuart, daughter of James VII, takes a Scottish Coronation Oath at Whitehall. Like her sister, she uses the anglicised style of 'Queen of Scotland', rather than the Scottish title of 'Queen of Scots'.
A sitting of Scottish Parliament is not called within 90 days after William's death in breach of an act of 1696. This allows the Scottish Privy Council to declare war on France in support of the interests of England, causing great resentment in Scotland.
The Country Party boycott the Scottish Parliament in protest against the Scottish Privy Council's declaration of war on France without consulting parliament.
First general election in Scotland since 1689. The Country party and the Jacobites make large gains. Number of MPs elected: 100 Court supporters, 70 Jacobites and 60 Country members.
Anne Stuart insists that the Scottish and English Parliaments discuss a Union of the two countries.
The Union negotiations between Scotland and England break down.
The Scottish Estates pass the 'Act anent Peace and War', which denies the right of any monarch to declare a war involving Scotland without consulting the Scottish Parliament.
Andrew Fletcher of Saltoun, MP for East Lothian, proposes that the powers of the monarchy should be limited.
The Scottish Parliament is adjourned by James Douglas, Duke of Queensberry after his government suffers a series of defeats. He is later sacked by Anne Stuart and replaced by John Hay, Marquis of Tweedale.
Following elections, the Scottish Parliament discusses the Act of Security which declares that the Scottish Parliament must meet within 20 days of the death of Anne Stuart to appont a successor who must be Protestant and a descendant of the House of Stewart. The Act calls for dissolution of the Union of the Crowns unless Scotland is guaranteed 'the freedom, frequency and the power of Parliament, and the religion, liberty and trade of the nation from English or any foreign interference.' This provokes calls for a Union by the English parliament and the Alien Act.
The government leader and head of the New Party, or Squadrone Volante, John Hay, Marquis of Tweedale, concedes defeat. The Act of Security Scottish Parliament which threatens to block the accession of the Hanovarians to the throne of Scotland is passed and later recieves the assent of Anne Stuart.
The Bank of Scotland suspends all payments.
The English Parliament passes the Alien Act which insists that Scots accept the Hanovarian succession and a Union with England. If Scotland does not comply by Christmas 1705, all Scots living in England are to be considered as Aliens and trade with Scotland is to cease.
A new session of the Scottish Parliament is opened with the pro-Union John Campbell, Duke of Argyll, as Commissioner, or leader of the parliament.
The Duke of Hamilton, the leader of the opposition Country party, does a U-turn and proposes that nominations to the commission on Union should be made by Queen Anne. The motion is carried by four votes and allows the government to ensure that the commission is packed with pro-Union supporters.
The English Parliament passes the Act of Naturalisation, which gives the status of English subject to all Protestant Hanovarians.
Serious discussions concerning a Union with Scotland are held in London.
A Treaty of Union is drafted in London.
The Scottish Parliament begins to debate the 25 Articles of Union with England.
Violent anti-Union demonstrations in Edinburgh follow the refusal of the government to hold elections to allow the people to pass their opinion upon the proposed Union with England. The Privy Council sends troops into the city.
There is a government majority of 32 in agreement of the first article of Union.
Anti-Union riot in Glasgow.
Stirling Town Council sends a petition against the proposed Union of England. A pro-Union petition is sent from the Burgh of Montrose while anti-Union petitions are sent from the Counties of Aberdeen, Kincardine, Angus, Perth, Fife, Dunbarton, Renfrew, Stirling, Lanark, Linlithgow, Edinburgh, Berwick, Roxburgh, Dumfries and Kirkcudbright and the Burghs of Peterhead, Stonehaven, Forfar, Dunkeld, Perth, St Andrews, Cupar, Falkland, Dysart, Dunfermline, Burntisland, Inverkeithing, Culross, Glasgow, Gorbals, Lanark, Douglas, Paisley, Ayr, Maybole, New Galloway, Kirkcudbright, Lochmaben, Annan, Lauder, Bo'ness, Linlithgow and Dunbar. Numerous parishes, especially in the Hamilton area, also send petitions against the Union.
The Scottish Parliament ratifies the Treaty of Union by 110 votes to 69 against. Sir John Clerk, a government commissioner, admits that this vote is 'contrary to the inclinations of at least three-fourths of the kingdom.' Andrew Fletcher of Saltoun comments 'Scotland is only fit for the slaves who have sold it.'
The Duke of Queensberry, Her Majesty's Commissioner, and the Earl of Seafield, Lord Chancellor, fail to turn up at the traditional celebrations of the Monarch's birthday at the Mercat Cross in Edinburgh for fear of a public uprising against the Union.
The English Parliament ratifies the Treaty of Union by a majority of 158 votes.
The Acts of Union receive Royal Assent.
The Act of Union is signed by the Chancellor of the Scots Parliament.
Scotland's Parliament meets for the last time and is adjourned.
The Scottish Parliament is formally dissolved. James Ogilvy, Earl of Seafield utters the words 'There's an end to an auld sang.'
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