On this day in 1093, King Malcolm III of Scotland was killed during an ill-fated raid in Northumberland. Reigning from the 17th March 1058 until his death, Malcolm had spent most of his upbringing in the North of England – having taken refuge there after the murder of his father Duncan I by Macbeth and … More On This Day, 1093: Malcolm III of Scotland is Killed in Battle
Robert the Bruce is undoubtedly Scotland’s most famous monarch. The warrior king who played a pivotal role leading Scottish resistance against English rule under Edward I, and later his son, Edward II. The subject of many a tale, Robert the Bruce is a fascinating character and a towering figure in Scottish history. Here are five … More Five Facts About Robert the Bruce
In September 1666, the Great Fire of London began its devastating rampage throughout the city. By all accounts, it is the quintessential disaster story, and the plot of this tale wouldn’t seem out of place in a Hollywood blockbuster. From the 2nd of September through to the 5th, the fire decimated London, destroying more than … More On This Day, 1666: The Great Fire of London Erupts
On 10th August 1460, King James III of Scotland was coronated at Kelso Abbey. James inherited the throne from his father, James II, following his death during the siege of Roxburgh Castle just four days prior. He was just a child at the time, and during much of his early reign Scotland was governed by … More This Day in Scottish History: James III of Scotland is Crowned at Kelso Abbey
As the saying goes, “Rome wasn’t built in a day”, and the successive campaigns to control the Italian peninsula lasted several centuries. In its formative years as a republic, Rome expanded locally but its greatest weakness came in the form of natural defences. With few natural obstacles surrounding the city, an approaching enemy force could … More Rome: Origins of the Empire, Part Three
From across the sea they came. The arrival of Norsemen on our shores heralded the beginning of a new, bloody era in British history. … More Land of Hope and Glory: Vikings and Saxon England
On 10th February 1306, John III Comyn of Badenoch was murdered in Dumfries by Robert the Bruce. … More A Deadly Encounter in Dumfries
Fought on the 17th January 1746, the Battle of Falkirk Muir marked an impressive victory for the Jacobite cause, but one that would have little impact on the eventual outcome of the conflict. … More The Battle of Falkirk Muir: A ‘Hollow Victory’ for the Jacobite Cause
The island of Inchkeith boasts a peculiar and chequered history. During both world wars, this craggy outcrop in the Firth of Forth formed part of a defensive network which protected shipping and kept watch for elusive German U-boats. Featuring bunkers, artillery positions and anti-aircraft guns, the island was a fortress and would likely have been … More The Bizarre Inchkeith Language Experiment Commissioned by King James IV
On 31st January 1918, Royal Navy vessels sailing from Rosyth meandered their way through thick fog toward the North Sea.
While the battlegroup passed the Isle of May, five disastrous collisions occurred which sank two British submarines and caused damage to three more. … More Tragedy at Sea: The ‘Battle’ of May Island, 1918