Scottish Timeline

BC 7000		Beginning of the Mesolithic Period in Scotland
4000		Beginning of the Neolithic Age in Scotland
3000		Possible dating for Early Cave Dwellers Near Oban in Scotland
1800		Beginning of the Bronze Age in Scotland
400		Beginning of the Iron Age in Scotland
55		Julius Caesar (102-44 BC) lands in Britain
AD 60		Queen of the Iceni (Boudicca) in Britain, revolts against Roman rule killing many native British and Romans.
83		Julius Agricola advances across the River Clyde fighting off bands of warring Celts.
85		The Battle of Mons Graupius
121 to 129		Hadrian's Wall built from Bowness to Wallsend, across the isthmus between the Tyne and Solway Firth. Intended to hold back the wild Caledonians, it never worked.
139		Antonine's Wall built. Also known as Graham's Dyke
208		Invasion of Septimius Severus
296		The Pictish people were first mentioned in Roman literature. The name "Pict" is said to have come either from a Latin word meaning "painted ones" or another meaning "fighter". Both of these accurately depicted the Pictish people
360		Roman literature describes the warring tribes based in Ireland as the "Scots"
368		The Pict, Scot and Saxon tribes attack the Romans in London and plunder their treasures.
397		First Christian Church Founded in Scotland by St Ninian at Galloway
430		Roman control of Britain ends
501		Foundation of the Kingdom of Dalriada (Dalriata) - The Scots from Ireland, a Gaelic-speaking people, Christian in religion establish the Kingdom in Argyll on the West coast and Isles of Scotland
521		Birth of St Columba
563		St. Columba sails from Ireland to Argyll to found monasteries, chiefly on the Island of Iona
575		Treaty with Drumceat
597		Death of St. Columba
600		Catterick - 300 Edinburgh horseman killed by the English
606		Death of King Aidan of Dalriada
664		The Synod of Whitby
685		Battle of Dunnichen - where the Picts under Brude defeat the Angles and establish Scotland's southern border. Nechtansmere, Forfarshire - On the 20 May, the Angle King Ecgfrith was defeated by the Picts. Pictish King rejects the Celtic Church in favor of the Roman church
794		Beginning of the Norse Invasions of Scotland
802		Norse invasion of Iona
843		Kenneth MacAlpine crowned King of Scots and Picts
858 to 862		Reign of Donald I
862 to 877		Reign of Constantine I
877 to 878		Reign of Aed
878 to 889		Reign of Eochaid
889 to 900		Reign of Donald II
900 to 942		Reign of Constantine II
937		Brananburgh - The Saxon King Athelstane defeated Danes and Britons near Solway
942		Malcolm I crowned King (r. 943 - 954)
954 to 962		Reign of Indulf
962 to 966		Reign of Dubh
966 to 971		Reign of Culen
971		Edgar gives Lothian to Kenneth II - Reign of Kenneth II 971 - 995
973		Luncarty - King Kenneth the 2nd defeated the Danish Vikings
995 to 997		Constantine III
997		Battle of Luncarty. Reign of Kenneth III 997 - 1005
986		Last recorded Viking raid on Iona by Norse
1005		Malcolm II 1005 - 1034 kills Kenneth III and becomes King
1014		The Battle of Clontarf, Regaining of the Hebrides and Northern Scotland
1018		Battle of Carham. Annexation of Lothian and Cumbria
1018		Duncan MacAlpine succeeds Strathclyde
1034		Duncan I 1034 - 1040. Duncan, made King of Strathclyde after the battle of Carham, helps kill his grandfather Malcolm II and becomes King of a (largely) united Scotland
1040		Macbeth 1040 - 1057. MacBeth slays Duncan to becomes King of Scotland after Duncan is heavily defeated by the English in battle
1057 to 1058		Brief reign of Lulach 'The Fool'
1057		Malcom III (Canmore)1057 - 1093, nicknamed Cean-mor or "Big Head", slays Macbeth to eventually become King, at the Battle of Lumphanan - on 15 August
1066		Norman Conquest of England begins
1070		Malcolm Canmore marries Margaret. (Anglo-Saxon princess that sought refuge in Scotland)
1073		Malcolm III Pays homage to William I, after defeat in battle
1093		Battle of Alnwick - King Malcolm III or Canmore is killed during battle on the 13 November. Deaths of both Malcolm and Margaret. Much English influence is brought to Lowland Scotland by Margaret. (later St. Margaret)
1093		Donald Bain 1093 - 1094
1094		Duncan II (son of Canmore) 1094 - 1094
1094		Duncan II (second reign) 1094 - 1097
1097		Edgar (son of Canmore) 1097 - 1107
1098		Western Isles retaken by Magnus Bareleg the King of Norway
1107		Alexander I 1107 - 1124, on the death of Edgar, Scotland becomes disunited. Alexander I becomes King of Scots, but David I becomes King in Lothian and Strathclyde
1124		David I 1124 - 1153, unity was restored when, on Alexander's death, David becomes King of Scots. His reign is one of the most important in Scotland's history, extending Scottish borders to the River Tees, including all of Northumberland. David I institutes many administrative changes into Scotland including laws, early schools and gives much Scottish land to his Norman friends
1138		Battle of the Standard. King David I of Scotland defeated and 10,000 Scots killed by the Normans
1153		Malcom IV 1153 - 1165. Rise of Somerled. (Scot-Viking Lord of the Isles and progenitor of Clan Donald)
1165		William the Lion 1165 - 1214
1174		William the Lion Defeated in the Battle at Alnwick. Treaty of Falaise is signed by William the Lion after losing to the English. Under this treaty, Scotland would be in debt to England for years
1179		Province of Ross subdued by William the Lion (1143-1214)
1180		Inverness received Charter from William the Lion
1189		Scotland's Independance regained and accepted by Richard I
1192		Scottish Church becomes a special 'daughter' of the Roman See
1214		Alexander II 1214 - 1249
1222		Conquest of Argyle by Alexander II
1230		Final Pacification of Moray
1235		Final Pacification of Galloway
1237		Alexander II abandons Claim to Northern Counties of England
1249		Alexander II dies at Kerrera
1249		Alexander III 1249 - 1286
1263		Battle of Largs, Scots win decisive victory and obtain the Hebrides from Norway
1266		Western Isles ceded to Scotland with the Treaty of Perth
1272		William Wallace born (approx) in Ellerslie
1274		Robert the Bruce born
1286		Death of Alexander III, by a fall from his horse over a cliff. Scottish Throne open to only one child heir
1286		Margaret (The Maid of Norway) 1286 - 1290
1290		Maid of Norway dies
1290		First Interregnum 1290 - 1292 (time between two reigns)
1292		John Balliol 1292 - 1296 (awarded the Scottish Crown by Edward I)
1296		Edward I Invaded Scotland, Abdication of John Balliol. Scotland's Coronation Stone - the "Stone of Destiny" - is stolen by Edward I and taken to Westminster Abbey (in London) by the English. Scots are killed in thousands by Edwards 30,000 troops and 5,000 cavalry in Berwick and Dunbar
1296		Second Interregnum 1296 - 1306 (time between two reigns)
1296		Revolt by William Wallace
1297		Battle of Stirling Bridge. William Wallace kills sheriff of Lanark, Hazelrig, and a revolt under his command is begun. In September, Wallace defeats the English forces at Stirling Bridge and becomes the 'Guardian of Scotland'
1298		First Battle of Falkirk - William Wallace and his army of 12,000 are defeated by Edward I of England and his army of 2,500 Heavy horse and about 20,000 foot. Wallace resigns Gaurdianship, but Scotland now has a sense of self-identity apart and distinct from that of England
1305		William Wallace executed, he is "hung, drawn and quartered in a barbarous execution. Wallace's head is mounted on London Bridge
1306		Assassination of Comyn at Greyfriar Abbey, Dumfries. Coronation of Robert the Bruce at Scone
1306		Robert I 1306 -1329
1307		Three of the Bruce's brothers, Alexander, Nigel and Thomas are "hanged, drawn and quartered" by Edward I, exactly as Wallace had been executed two years earlier
1307		10 May, 1307 Bruce and Douglas defeat de Valence, the Earl of Pembroke, at Louden Hill, his first major victory over the English
1308		Battle of the pass of Brander
1308		Inverurie - King Robert the Bruce defeated Comyn of Buchan and the English
1314		Battle of Bannockburn - (Scots under Robert the Bruce routed the English led by Edward II) resulting in Scottish Independence. The Scots with only 500 mounted men, 2,500 spearmen and 5,000 warriors defeat the English and their army of 25-30,000. It was Englands most severe loss to any army in their medieval history
1320		The Declaration of Arbroath is drawn up to recognise Scottish independence from England. The Pope accepts the Declaration
1325		Tarbert Castle (Loch Fyne) built
1326		First Burgh Representatives in Parliament
1328		Treaty of Northampton signed between Edward III and Robert I officially recognising Scottish independence and Robert Bruce as it's king
1329		Death of Robert Bruce, possibly of leprosy
1329		David II 1329 - 1371
1332		Invasion of Scotland by Edward Balliol, son of John Balliol, with English backing. Scots defeated by Edward Balliol at Dupplin Moor
1333		Battle of Halidon Hill, Edward the III of England defeats Scots
1346		Battle of Neville's Cross. King David II is defeated and captured by the English
1349		The Black Death, (Bubonic Plague) begins in Scotland
1371		Robert II 1371 - 1390 (the first of the Stewarts crowned)
1385		French Expedition to Scotland
1388		The Battle of Otterburn. Henry Percy "Hotspur" and the English defeated by the Scots under James, 2nd earl of Douglas. Henry and Ralph Percy captured. Douglas was killed at the battle
1390		Robert III 1390 - 1406
1396		Hugh clan battle at Perth of Chattens, watched by king Robert III as "entertainment"
1402		Duke of Rothsey dies
1402		Homildon Hill, Northumberland, English defeat Scots
1406		James I 1406 - 1437
1406		James I captured by the English
1407		Burning of the Lollard, James Resby
1411		The Battle of Harlaw. Donald Lord of the Isles was defeated by an army of Lowlanders
1412		University of St Andrews founded by Bishop Wardlaw
1424		James I returns to Scotland from captivity in England
1427		Parliament at Inverness when James I ordered the imprisonment of fifty Highland Chiefs
1433		James Craw Burned
1437		James I assassinated at Perth
1440		Kilchurn Castle built
1451		University of Glasgow founded mainly by the exertions of Bishop Turnbull
1452		James II kills William, 8th Earl of Douglas
1455		The Battle of Arkinholm and the Fall of the Douglases
1460		Death of James II by an exploding canon during the siege of Roxburgh
1460		James III 1460 - 1488
1466		Battle of Blair-na-Pairc
1468		James III marries Margaret of Denmark
1472		Annexation of Orkney and Shetland Islands to Scotland
1472		St Andrews appointed an Archbishopric
1482		First Rebellion against James III Lauder Bridge
1488		Battle of Sauchieburn and Assassination of James III, he was murdered after being accused of surrounding himself with evil advisors who encouraged him to bring Englishmen into Scottish affairs
1488		James IV 1488 - 1513
1493		End of the Lordship of the Isles
1495		King's College Aberdeen founded by Bishop Elphinstone
1496		First Education Act Passed
1502		King Henry VII of England gives his daughter in marriage to James IV of Scotland. This gave rise to the Union of the Crowns in 1603
1503		Marriage of James IV and Margaret Tudor
1513		Battle of Flodden and Death of James IV. James IV killed in battle along with much of the aristocracy of Scotland and thousand of Highlanders and Lowlanders by English forces of Henry VIII, led by the Earl of Surrey. Battle was fought at Branxton. James IV's body was disembowelled, embalmed and sent, eventually, to London. His body, grotesquely preserved, was kept in the Monastery of Sheen, then thrown in the lumber room after the dissolution. Years later, it was discovered by workmen who cut off the head and used it for a macabre plaything - it was passed from one English noble to another for years, until it was finally buried in an anonymous grave
1513		James V 1513 - 1542
1528		Patrick Hamilton burned
1532		College of Justice Founded (Court of Session)
1542		The Battle of Solway Moss and Death of James V
1542		Mary 1542 - 1567
1544		Hertford's Invasion of Scotland and the Burning of Edinburgh, including Holyrood Palace. Fires lasted for 3 Days
1545		Hertford's again invades of Scotland but was defeated at Ancrum
1545		Hertford returns and destroys 5 towns, 240 villages, also the Abbeys of Kelso, Melrose, Dryburgh and Eccles
1546		George Wishart burned
1546		Cardinal Beaton murdered
1547		Battle of Pinkie. 15,000 English under the Duke of Somerset defeated by the Scots
1557		The First Covenant Drawn Up Pledging Scotland to be Portestant
1567		James VI 1567 - 1625 ( James I of England)
1558		Walter Mill (a Very Old Man), Probably the Last Heretic to be Put to Death, was Burned at St Andrews
1559		John Knox returns from the continent
1560		End of Franco-Scottish Alliance and Protestantism established
1560		The Treaty of Edinburgh
1561		Mary returns from France
1561		First Book of Discipline
1565		Marriage of Mary to Darnley
1566		Riccio murdered
1567		Darnley murdered. Abdication of Mary, Queen of Scots. James VI (r.1567-1625) becomes King of Scotland
1567		Marriage of Mary to Bothwell
1568		Abdication of Queen Mary
1568		Battle of Langside. Moray and 45,000 men defeated Mary with only 4,500. Mary flees to England to seek help from Elizabeth I, who imprisons Mary in various Keeps, Castles and Towers
1570		Regent Moray Murdered
1571		Regent Lennox slain
1572		John Knox dies
1572		Regent Mar dies
1573		Edinburgh Castle Captured and End of Religious Wars in Scotland
1578		Second Book of Discipline
1582		Raid of Ruthven
1582		Edinburgh University founded
1587		Mary executed
1603		Union of the Crowns of England and Scotland. James VI of Scotland becomes James I of England, bringing about the Union of the Crowns. This was not an altogether welcome move in much of Scotland or England.
1603		James I of England 1603 - 1625 ( VI of Scotland)
1610		Episcopacy established
1618		The Five Articles of Perth. James VI imposes Bishops on the presbyterian Church of Scotland in an attempt to integrate it with the Church of England. This move was deeply unpopular with the Scots
1625		James VI dies
1625		Charles I 1625 - 1649. Charles I becomes King on the death of his father. Although born in Scotland, Charles had no interest in the country and dealt with Scottish affairs with even less tact than his father, causing discontent
1625		Act of Revocation Passed
1633		Visit of Charles I to Scotland
1637		The Scottish Prayer Book. Charles attempts to further anglicise the Church of Scotland by introducing a new prayer book, which causes riots at St.Giles in Edinburgh. Jenny Geddes throws a cutty-stool in St. Giles in protest
1638		The National Covenant. A Protestant (mostly Lowland, later called Presbyterian) movement forms. The National Covenant. - Charles regards protests against the prayer book as treason, forcing Scots to choose between their church and the King. A "Covenant", swearing to resist these changes to the death, is signed in Greyfriars Church in Edinburgh. The covenant is accepted by thousands of Scots
1638		Abolishment of Episcopacy
1639		First Bishop's War. Charles calls a General Assembly, effectively abolishing the unpopular Scottish Bishops. Agreement is reached through the "Treaty of Berwick"
1640		Second Bishop's War. Charles's peace collapses; the Scots Covenanting Army led by David Leslie shows force by marching on Newcastle
1643		Solemn League and Covenant
1644		The Battle of Marston Moor
1645		Battle of Philiphaugh
1648		The Battle of Preston
1649		Charles I Executed
1549		Charles II 1649 - 1651
1650		Montrose Executed
1650		Battle of Dunbar
1650		The Battle of Worcester
1651		1651 - 1660 Commonwealth and Protectorate
1660		Charles II 1660 - 1685
1661		Restoration of Episcopacy
1666		The Pentland Rising
1669		The First Letter of Indulgence
1679		Archbishop Sharp Murdered
1679		The Battle of Drumclog
1679		The Battle of Bothwell Bridge
1680		The Sanquhar Declaration
1685		Charles II dies
1685		James II 1685 - 1689 (James VII of Scotland)
1685		Invasion by Earl of Argyle
1687		Three Letters of Indulgence
1688		James Renwick Executed
1689		James VII Deposed
1689		William III ( II of Scotland) and Mary II 1689 - 1694
1689		The Battle of Killiecrankie. Highlanders under leadership of "Bonnie Dundee" (John Graham of Claverhouse, Viscount Dundee), defeats the Williamite (Government) forces of General Hugh MacKay. Dundee is killed in battle
1689		The Battle at Dunkeld
1690		Re-establishment of Presbyterianism
1692		The Massacre of Glencoe
1694		William III 1694 - 1702 ( without Mary II)
1696		The Passing of the Education Act
1702		William III dies
1702		Anne ( Daughter of James II) 1702 - 1714
1704		Act of Security Passed
1707		Union of the English and Scottish Parliaments. Scotland formally united with England to form Great Britain. Although claimed to have been a peaceful and desired Union, it was met with riots in Edinburgh, and the Highlanders never wanted Union with England. It was, in effect, "steamrollered" onto the Scots by Queen Anne, and Scotland's larger neighbour to the south
1708		Abolition of the Scottish Privy Council
1708		French attempt Invasion of Scotland
1714		Death of Anne
1714		George I 1714 - 1727
1715		The Fifteen Rebellion, Jacobite Rising (the Jacobites fighting for the James Stuart (James VIII), "Old Pretender" as he was known by his detractors, were defeated at the Battle of Sheriffmuir)
1725		The Malt Tax and the Shawfield Riots
1727		George I dies
1727		George II 1727 - 1760
1736		The Porteous Riots
1745		The Forty-Five Rebellion, Jacobite Rising (Scottish victory at the Battle of Prestonpans; Jacobite Scottish army advance as far south as Derby but then retreat)
1746		The Battle of Culloden
1747		The Abolition of Secretary Of State Office
1748		Heritable Jurisdictions Abolished
1750		The First Turnpike Act Passed
1760		George II dies
1760		George III 1760 - 1820
1760		Founding of Carron Iron Works at Falkirk
1763		Swing Plough invented by James Small
1769		Steam Engine Patented by James Watt
1782		Rotary Steam Engine Built By James Watt
1784		Threshing Machine Invented by Andrew Meikle
1790		Forth and Clyde Canal Opened
1793		Thomas Muir Sentenced to Deportation for Sedition
1799		Serf Labour in Scottish Mines Abolished
1801		Blackband Ironstone Discovered by David Mushet
1801		Symington's Steamboat, The Charlotte Dundas Sails
1812		The Steamdriven Boat The Comet first sailed
1812		Bell's Comet
1820		George IV 1820 - 1830
1820		The Radical War
1822		The Caledonian Canal Completed
1826		Scotland's first commercial railway opened between Edinburgh and Dalkeith Completed
1828		Hot Blast Furnace patented by James Neilson
1830		William IV 1830 - 1837
1832		The First Reform Act Passed
1833		The Burgh Reform Act Passed
1837		Victoria 1837 - 1901
1843		The Disruption - 474 ministers signed the Deed of Demission and formed the Free Church of Scotland (the "Wee Free")
1845		The Scottish Poor Law Passed
1846		The Potato Famine
1846		Abolition of Trade and Merchant Privileges
1860		Scotland hosted the first Open Golf Championship
1867		The First Public Health Act Passed
1868		The Second Reform Act Passed
1872		The Education Act Passed with Compulsory Education
1879		Tay Bridge Disaster - (Bridge collapsed in storm taking a train with it, the enquiry revealed corners had been cut during construction to reduce costs
1885		The Third Reform Act Passed, Secretary of State for Scotland Restored
1886		The Crofters Holding Act Passed
1889		County Councils Established
1896		Opening of the Underground Railway (the "Shooglie") in Glasgow, it remains the only underground in Scotland
1915		Britain's worst train disaster took place near Gretna Green, south of Dumfries, 227 people killed
1937		The largest ocean liner ever built, the Queen Elizabeth, was launched in Clydebank
1943		More than 1,000 people were killed over two days in Clydebank and Southern Glasgow during the only sustained German Luftwaffe attack on Scotland during the Second World War
1950		Scottish Nationalists steal the "Stone of Destiny" from Westminster Abbey. This was Scotland's Coronation Stone, taken by the English in 1296. By tradition all British Monarchs have to be crowned while sitting on it. It was eventually recovered from Arbroath Abbey, although some claim this was a copy, and the original remains in Scotland
1959		Scotland's first nuclear power station was opened at Chapelcross in Dumfrieshire
1967		The Queen Elizabeth II was launched in Clydebank
1971		66 people were killed in Scotland's worst football disaster, when part of the stadium collapsed at Ranger's ground in Glasgow after a match with Celtic
1988		Scotland's worst terrorist incident occurred when a bomb exploded on board a Boeing 747 air liner on course from Frankfurt to New York. It crashed on the village of Lockerbie in Dumfrieshire, killing a total of 275 people, which represented all on board and a number on the ground
1996		A gunman kills 16 five-year-old children, their teacher and himself in the Primary School at Dunblane in Perthshire
1996		The "Stone of Destiny", Scotland's Coronation Stone, is returned from London to Edinburgh Castle, 700 years after being stolen by Edward I