Scotland The Middle Ages

What is a nation? What does it mean to be a citizen of a nation?

Key Terms Nationalism - is a belief, creed or political ideology that involves an individual identifying with, or becoming attached to, one's nation. Mythologizing - to talk about or describe (someone or something) as a subject that deserves to be told about in a myth or legend : to make (someone or something) seem great or heroic

Why do you think mythology could be important to the development of nationalism?

Scotland in the Early Middle Ages There were no “Scots” in the land that would come to be known as Scotland Made up of a variety of peoples including: Picts Gaels Vikings Britons (Welsh) Angles Norman Lords (after 1066)

Kenneth MacAlpin and His Descendants Birth of the Kingdom of Scotland? Cináed mac Ailpín (Anglicised as Kenneth MacAlpin) defeated the Vikings and subjugated the Gaels and Britons to become King of Pictland from c. 841-859 According to the national myth he was the first king of Scotland – though Scotland and the Scots did not exist at the time Áed mac Cináeda (son of Kenneth) was king of Pictland from 877-878 when he was murdered by Giric of the Gaels Giric was king from 878-889 and during his reign he removed Picts from positions of power and replaced them with Gaels Áed’s young son and nephew - Constantine and Donald - escaped to Ireland to live with their aunt who was married to a king in Ireland two Pictish princes living in a Gaelic court and assimilating into Gaelic culture Once grown the Pictish princes returned and removed Giric from power but rather than reinstate Pictish culture as the dominant culture they kept it Gaelic

What does this story of the two Pictish princes – Donald and Constantine – tell us about the state of Nationalism in the lands that would become Scotland at the end of the 9th century?

History of Overlordship by England English kings had claimed Overlordship of the land that would become Scotland as far back as the Angle-Saxon King Æthelstan in the early 10th century King Constantine II at first accepted this overlordship but within a couple of years rejected it – he joined with the king of the Vikings and the king of the Britons (Welsh) to fight Æthelstan 937 the battle of Brunanburh was fought between 10,000’s of soldiers Anglo-Saxons won but just barely - Æthelstan would not attempt to enforce his Overlordship in Scotland again

Alexander II Reigned as King of Scotland from 1214-1249 By the time of his reign English kings, Anglo-Saxons and then Normans, had claimed Overlordship of Scotland for over 200 years Alexander intended to end this once and for all – he was fortunate in his timing, the King of England was John I

King John King of England 1166-1216

English Barons Revolt 1216 John had been forced to sign the Magna Carta in 1215 but almost as quickly refused to acknowledge it The Barons of Northern England revolted in 1216 and many switched allegiances swearing fealty to the King of Scotland, Alexander II - feudalism at its best… Alexander II took many northern English cities and marched a Scottish army to the South of England to join up with a French army invading England Suddenly John died and his 9 year old son Henry III became king Henry accepted the Magna Carta and the English Barons just as quickly swore allegiance to the king of England once more – the French returned to France and Alexander was without allies

Alexander II & III Alexander, his ambitions thwarted in the south, turned north and proceeded to bring all of Scotland under his rule At his death in 1249 Scotland was a far larger and more unified kingdom with a clear border between it and England – but a feudal kingdom, not a nation His son, Alexander III married Margaret, princess of England, and reigned from 1249-1286 – some called it the Golden Age of Scotland On the death of Alexander III his granddaughter, 3 year old Margaret, princess of Norway, became Queen of Scotland – she died four years later and Scotland was without an heir

Edward I Longshanks King of England 1272-1307 Saw it as his and England’s destiny to rule over the British Isles At age 31 Prince Edward went on the ninth crusade – returned to England 4 years later as both the new King and a battle hardened general Within a few years he had crushed Wales and made it a part of his English kingdom

Scottish Secession Crisis In Scotland the nobles needed an independent adjudicator to select the next Scottish king and ensure civil war did not break out Edward I was selected but forced any likely claimant to recognize Edward’s Overlordship to which they did John Balliol was selected as king Balliol did not stay loyal for long and formed an alliance with the King of France against England Edward marched north and crushed the Scottish armies and placed Balliol in the Tower of London – Scotland was now effectively without a king and Edward considered Scotland part of his realm

Describe how Edward I is subjugating Scotland to English feudalism Describe how Edward I is subjugating Scotland to English feudalism. Why might this subjugation and oppression create the first sparks of nationalism?