Welcome to the Street Prophets Coffee Hour cleverly hidden at the intersection of religion and politics. This is an open thread where we can share our thoughts and comments about the day. We are going to start off today with a very short history of the Edinburgh Castle.
One of the most popular tourist attractions in Edinburgh is the Edinburgh Castle (shown above) which is situated on a volcanic outcropping that overlooks the city. Among the displays in the Castle are a series of panels (shown below) which provide a brief history of the Castle.
In the first century CE, tribal leaders exchanged gifts with the Romans in the hilltop stronghold. Local people had built a great hill fort here as a defendable home and a symbol of strength. They avoided conflict with the Roman army through diplomacy.
About 600 CE, legendary warriors left the hill fort to die in battle in England. Some 300 warriors rode to their doom after a year of drinking in a hall on the castle rock.
About 1140, Scotland’s leaders were ordered to assemble at King David’s castle to enact laws and pass judgements. David was initially Prince of the Cumbrians (1113 to 1124) and ruled as King of the Scots from 1124 until 1153. He became King when his brother, Alexander I of Scotland, died. For the first ten years of his reign, King David was engaged in warfare with his rival and nephew, Máel Coluim mac Alaxandair.
In 1314, Scottish soldiers scaled the rock and retook the castle from the English. A small force loyal to King Robert the Bruce climbed the northern face at night. Robert the Bruce (1274-1329) was king of the Scots from 1306 until 1329. He is revered as a national hero for leading the First War of Scottish Independence.
In 1457, King James II declared Scotland to be a strong and confident kingdom. A large cannon, a gift from the Duke of Burgundy, was installed in the castle. King James II (1430-1460) reigned from 1437. He assumed the throne at the age of 7. In 1449, he married Mary of Guelders, daughter of the Duke of Gelderland and great-niece of Philip the Good, Duke of Burgundy.
In 1566, the first king of both Scotland and England was born in the castle. When Mary Queen of Scots was forced to abdicate in 1567, her only child became King James VI of Scotland. In 1603, he inherited the English crown and became King James I.
In 1573 the castle was reduced to rubble. The garrison had declared support for the overthrown Mary Queen of Scots and government forces besieged the castle for more than a year.
In 1745, the castle’s guns fired on Edinburgh during the Jacobite Rising. The Jacobite soldiers wanted to return a Stuart king to the throne. The castle remained in government hands. This was the last time the canons were fired in anger.
Open Thread
This is an open thread—all topics are welcome.
