SCOTTISH HISTORY & HERITAGE

Vikings

In the 8^th Century (793) the Vikings were attracted by the wealth of the monasteries and the easy treasure to be found. Islands like Iona were more frequent targets and regularly plundered and the villagers murdered.

Mid 9^th centaury the Vikings had moved into the Pictish kingdom and attacked the Scots in the Kingdom of Dalriada. The Scots moved inland and with the southern Picts created a kingdom called Alba with Scone as its capital. On the Stone of Scone Kenneth MacAlpin King of Scots was made King of Picts. The famous stone had very religious ancestry to the Scots dating back to the 6^th – 7^th Centuary – the stone was said to have been brought by Fergus to Dalriada to crown the Kings of Scots.

The Scots became dominant through battle and marriage – they passed Kingship down through the male line, however, the Picts passed on down the female side. Therefore, over time it put an end to the Pictish system. Kenneth MacAplin was the first King of Picts and Scots, the same title was given to the brother and then the son who succeeded him. The Picts pass from history as most unknown races do, and also with them the Kingdom of Dalriada.

By the end of the 9^th Century, the Vikings came to Scotland to settle – it seemed that the Scots and the Norsemen had something in common and after a while intermarriages took place between common and nobles from established clans in the north of Scotland and throughout the Western Isles. However, this was not the end of the Norse raids.

In the summer of 1263, King Haakon of Norway assembled a great fleet with which he sailed to Scotland. The Norwegians fought their way ashore at Largs in Ayrshire, where they were defeated on land and at sea by the Scots and had to withdraw in disorder. King Haakon of Norway died from injuries from battle at Kirkwall on his way home. His successor, Magnus, signed a peace under which the Hebrides became officially part of Scotland.

The remainder of Alexander III of Scotland’s Daughter Margaret married the King of Norway in 1283, set the seal on the peace treaty of 20 years before, between Norway and Scotland, and established after four centuries of war and strife, a friendly relationship between the two countries which has lasted ever since.