Scotland is an ancient country and has faced various conflicts (battles). This part of the Highland produced hundreds of lionheart warriors. The Scots still remember these heroes and admire them. Although, multiple movies have been filmed of them. England remained the primary rival of the Scots in multiple battles. Here, we will discuss a few Scots kings or knights who not only fought but led their forces to victory.
Scotland History And Brave Scots
Do you know the history of Scotland? The first recorded evidence of this country traces back to the 320s. The letter Scottish Declaration of Arbroath was proposed in 1320. While the Independence of Scotland was accepted in 1328 as a free country. During these periods, various Scot warriors, such as William Wallace and Robert Bruce, came and fought for their country.
William Wallace
William Wallace is a very prominent name in the list of Scot Braves. He was born in 1270 BC while died in 1305. He was a knight and fought against the English King Edward 1 playing a crucial part in the success of his army.
He was a true patriot, and the Scots know him as a resistance king. You must understand that Scots then lived as clans. So, he brought multiple clans together to prepare an army to stand against Britians and secure a victory. Their symbol tartan was Wallace tartan, worn as traditional mens kilts today. Kilts made with these specific tartan are popular worldwide and descendants of William Wallace feel proud wearing them.
Robert Bruce
The Scottish nation must be thankful to Rober Bruce because they became free in his reign. He was an intelligent king who lived for 54 years. While he ruled Sotls for almost 23 years. His war strategies against England in a decisive war ensured a tremendous victory. Furthermore, the agreement on Scottish freedom was proposed and accepted during his kingship.
He lost his first war against King Edward I in 1307, still one of the most successful Scots knights and kings. This war even made him hide in the mountains and caves. The story of a king and a spider is associated with him. Besides, if you are a Scottish history lover, you must have seen the movie “Braveheart.” The primary character there played the role of Robert The Bruce.
King James IV
Next on the list is King James IV, who lived from 1473 to 1513. He did not live that long but registered his name in Brave Scots. He was not only a knight but a historian as well. Literature and linguistics inspired him. That’s why he spoke different languages, including Latin, German, French, Irish, etc. As a king, he controlled the command of Scotts in 1488 when he was just 15.
He was asked to ride to the battle of Sauchieburn in 1488. His father, James III, died in the same war, and it is thought that James IV rebelled against his father. According to historians, he regretted his act till his adulthood. The battle of Flodden proved to be his last one, where he crossed the English border with 30,000 men but could not succeed.
Rob Roy
Rob Roy, also known as the Scottish “Robin Hood,” was an outlaw king. This name was assigned to him by Sir Walter Scot in a novel named Rob Roy in 1818. He opened his eyes in 1671 in the Macgregor clan. After being outlawed, he became a cattleman because this profession was considered a respectful way of living.
Rob Roy debited some cattle from a chief to increase his business, promising to return in money. However, he could not keep his promise and became a defaulter. The chief removed him and he burnt Rob’s land. Not only this, his family was tortured brutally.
MacGregor’s war versus the Duke of Montrose was his last one that continued until 1722. The opposition asked his force to surrender and get imprisoned. Superiors pardoned him in 1727. He could not die in a war but died at his home on 28 December 1734 after an illness. Traditional tartan mens kilts, known as MacGregor Tartan kilts, were their specific ones and their descendants proudly wear them today.
James Douglas
Last but not least on our list is James Douglas, known as Sir James Douglas in Scotland. He was Robert de Bruce’s champion and William Douglas’s son. He was a child during the first Scottish freedom fights. His father sent him to France for safety concerns, and he got his education there.
His father was killed in the meantime, plus the opponents captured the castle. In France, he had already joined Robert The Bruce. After becoming familiar with the contemporary situation, he separated from Robert and attacked his castle thrice to get it back. He didn’t rest then and fought many successful battles.
Sir James Douglas participated in many battles and remained victorious many times. Some specific wars include the Battle of Mayton, the Battle of Teba, etc. Thus, Tabla Battles was proven as his last one, where he was killed in 1330.
Conclusion
Scotland stands among the queue of countries with older histories. Discovered in the 300s, Scotland was accepted as a free state in the 1320s after the letter of the “Declaration of Arbroath” in the reign of Robert Bruce. The braves mentioned above are the most prominent. Scots, from day 1, have been a family of brave heroes. Hundreds of Scots fought different battles against the English kings and other rivals. Most of the heroes discussed here are used to wearing their specific tartans. Following the clans, people still wear these tartan kilts and appraise their ascendants.