In the Footsteps of Robert Bruce in Scotland, Nothern England and Ireland
"On 7 June 1329 died Robert Bruce, of goodly memory, the illustrious King of Scots, at Cardross in the 24th year of his reign. He was beyond all living men of his day, a valiant knight" wrote a contemporary chronicler. Bruce's body was buried in Dunfermline Abbey, his heart removed to be taken on crusade to the Holy Land - at his dying request - but later returned to Scotland for burial, and interred at Melrose Abbey. For over 600 years, Robert Bruce has had his own place in Scottish history, his position almost that of patron saint, and that the story of his life as hero king has held the minds of the champions of Scottish nationalism for generations.
"From Caledonia to Pictland" examines the earliest phases of Scottish history at a time when "Scotland" hadn't yet come into existence. It charts the transformation of the Celtic-speaking tribes of Iron Age Caledonia into the multi-lingual Christian kingdoms of Early Medieval northern Britain, peopled by Picts, Britons, Angles and Gaels. Major factors in this process include the direct and indirect influence of the Roman Empire, the profound impact of Christianisation, and the influx of Germanic settlers to the east and of Gaelic settlers to the west.
Strongholds of the Picts - The Fortifications of Dark Age Scotland
This book traces the origins and development of these North British forts. It also touches on the way they served as secular or religious centers, seats of power, or as barriers against invasion. It will also discuss the mystery surrounding the Picts, and show how modern archaeology has done much to reveal the way these enigmatic people waged war, and defended their strongholds.
From the death of James III to the execution of Mary, Queen of Scots, the story of the Scotland is told from the perspective of its regions and of individual Scots, as well as incorporating the view from the royal court. This book explains how the country was re-formed as the relationship between church and crown changed, with these two institutions converging, merging and diverging, thereby permanently altering the nature of Scottish governance. Society was also transformed especially by the feuars, new landholders who became the backbone of rural Scotland.
A history of the forging of the Scottish kingdom. In AD 1000 the Scottish kings embarked on a dramatic expansion of their territories. Geoffrey Barrow describes the evolution of Scottish kingship and government during the period. He examines the character of Scottish feudalism, considers how Scotland's landscape influenced its society and outlook on the world, and traces the growth of a sense of national identity up to 1306 and the coronation of Robert the Bruce as Robert I. Updated throughout, the new edition includes a new chapter on education and learning. Includes 2 maps, chronology, further reading, glossary, genealogy.
