Lia Fail
The Stone Of Destiny
Lia Fail, also known as the Stone of Destiny, the Stone of Covenant, the Stone of Scone, Jacob's Pillow, Jacob's Ladder, and the Saxum Fatale, is a block of sandstone measuring approximately 26" long, 16" wide, and 11" high. It has a weight of 336 lb. (152 kg mass) and bears a single inscription : that of a Latin cross. Over a thousand years of the Stone's history is well documented, although it's origin goes back even further.
In the Old Testament, Jacob wrestled with a spirit (Genesis 32 : 24-29). That night, he used a stone for a pillow. After changing his name to Israel, that same stone was used as a pillar to mark the covenant he had made with God. The Stone eventually traveled to Egypt, and then to Canaan during the Exodus. Some believe that this Stone was the one struck twice by Moses to produce water (Numbers 20 : 11), which prohibited him from entering Canaan (Numbers 20 : 12).
After that, the Stone remained in Jerusalem until around 586 B.C., eventually travelling to Sicily, Spain, possibly even Norway and Denmark, and later, Ireland.
Brought to Ireland by Tamar, daughter of King Zedekiah (Mattaniah) of Judah, the Stone was installed at the stronghold at the Hill of Tara, where it served as the place of coronation for all the early Irish and Dalriadic Kings. St. Patrick himself blessed the Stone and proclaimed that wherever it lay, the descendants of King Erc of the Antrim Dal Riata tribe shall reign. It was said that the Stone would "cry out" when the new King of Ireland was crowned on it.
In the early sixth century, Feargus the Great, son of Earcha, was given the Stone by King Murtough Mac-Earca (his grand-nephew) of Ireland, for use at his coronation as the first King of the Dalriads of Albania. After many years, Kenneth MacAlpin I (844-859), 36th King of Dalriada, united the Scots and the Picts. He had the Stone moved to Dunstaffnage Castle, Perth for his coronation, but later moved his seat to Scone Abbey, in Perthshire, Scotland. The Stone had previously been moved from Tara to Iona, and later to Dunadd before this.
Kenneth MacAlpin was a descendant of King Erc, who was in turn a descendant of King Ugaine Mar of Ireland, 19th great-grandson of Tamar of Judah. For over 1000 years, the descendants of the royal house of Judah used the Stone in their coronation ceremonies as the royal house of Ireland.
When the Stone was moved from Ireland to Scotland in the early sixth century, it was used in the coronation ceremonies of the Scots Dalriatic Kings, which were also in a direct line of decent from King Erc, the royal house of Ireland, and the royal house of Judah.
When King
Edward I of England usurped the throne of Scotland in 1296, he captured the Stone and brought it to England.
A throne was built over it and it was placed in Westminster Abbey where the English Kings and Queens have been
crowned ever since. Edward believed that possession of the Stone gave him sovereignty over Scotland. Through
the years, legends have circulated that the Stone Edward captured was not the true Stone of Destiny, but a fake,
and that the true Stone remained hidden in Scotland.
Robert the Bruce achieved independence for Scotland in 1306 and became King Robert I of Scotland. In 1328, the Treaty of Northampton between Scotland (ruled by Robert I) and England (then ruled by Edward Windsor III, grandson of Edward I) insured the return of the Stone to Scotland. It was however, not returned.
Robert I ruled until 1329. His son David, by his wife Elizabeth du Bourgh, became King David II of Scotland and ruled from 1329-1371. David II's nephew, Robert Stewart, ruled as King Robert II from 1371-1390.
Robert II was the son of Marjorie Bruce (daughter of Robert the Bruce) and Walter Stewart, the 6th High Steward of Scotland. The Stewarts (alternately, Stewards or Stuarts) were descendants of the original Dalriatic and Irish Kings.
Robert II's 6th great-grandson, James, became King James VI of Scotland in 1567. The English and Scottish crowns were united in 1603, which gave James the additional title of King James I of England. St. Patrick's proclamation again held true - a descendant of King Erc was once again crowned upon the Stone of Destiny. James ruled until 1625. His son, Charles I, ruled from 1625 until 1649, when he was executed and the country became a Commonwealth under Oliver Cromwell (1653-1658) and his son, Richard (1658-1659).
In 1660, the Stuarts were restored to the throne. Charles' son became Charles II and ruled until 1685. Charles II's brother, James, became James II of England, VII of Scots, and ruled from 1685-12/23/1688. Again, descendants of King Erc once again held the throne.
In 1688, the Whig Revolution placed William III and Mary II on the unified throne, both of them grandchildren of Charles I. In 1702, the throne went to Anne Stuart, daughter of James VII and II. Anne died without issue and in 1714 the throne was passed to George Hanover of the House of Guelph (George I), great-grandson of James I and VI. The current royal family is of direct decent from George I.
After over 2500 years and quite a few revolutions, the bloodline of the royal house of Ireland and Judah still held the throne.
On Christmas Day, 1950, the Stone was removed from Westminster Abbey by a group of Scottish Nationalists. It reappeared four months later in Arbroah Abbey and was promptly returned to Westminster. No charges were filed against those involved. Some believe that the true Stone was not returned and that the one taken back to Westminster was a forgery (just like the rumors in Edward I's time).
In 1996, Queen
Elizabeth II announced that the Stone would be returned to Scotland. The event took place on the 700th
anniversary of it's original "theft". Since November of 1996, the Stone has been kept in Edinburgh Castle.
Due to the Whig Revolution and, later, George I's coronation, some do not recognize the current royal family as the proper line of descent from the early Stuarts. Those that do not generally refer to the "true" line of Stuart decent as deriving from Charles I's daughter, Henrietta Anne, and passing to the royal house of Sardinia, currently represented by H.R.H. King Francis II, Duke of Bavaria, house of Wittelsbach. However, this de jure branch of Stuarts have not had access to the Stone.
Notes
24 And Jacob was left alone; and a man wrestled with him until the breaking of the day.
25 When the man saw that he did not prevail against Jacob, he touched the hollow of his thigh; and Jacob's thigh was put out of joint as he wrestled with him.
26 Then he said, "Let me go, for the day is breaking." But Jacob said, "I will not let you go unless you bless me."
27 And he said to him, "What is your name ?" And he said, "Jacob".
28 Then he said, "Your name shall be no more called Jacob, but Israel, for you have striven with God and with men, and have prevailed."
29 Then Jacob asked him, "Tell me, I pray, your name." But he said, "Why is it that you ask my name ?" And there he blessed him.
- Holy Bible, Revised Standard Edition
