On this day in 1824, the Great Fire of Edinburgh began its rampage through the Scottish capital. The fire is believed to have first began in an engraving workshop adjacent to Old Assembly Close, located just off the High Street. Edinburgh’s fledgling fire brigade – which had been established just two months prior to this … More On This Day, 1824: The Great Fire of Edinburgh Erupts
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
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
On 19th July 1333, the town of Berwick-upon-Tweed lay under siege. Close to breaking point, the town’s Scottish defenders had agreed to surrender to the besieging English army on 20th July unless a relief force arrived. And in the gloom of the early morning salvation appeared on the horizon. 15,000 Scots under the command of … More The Scottish Disaster at the Battle of Halidon Hill
The Battle of Gettysburg epitomises the futility of war and offered people of the time a terrifying glimpse at the devastating future of conflict. It is a landmark moment not only in the American Civil War, but in world history. A victory and tragedy in the same breath. Fought from the 1st of July through … More The Battle of Gettysburg: The Turning Point
On 30th June 1917, Scottish socialist politician John Maclean was released from prison following a high-profile public campaign to secure his release. Born in Pollokshaws and a schoolteacher by trade, John Maclean was a prominent figure in the Red Clydeside movement and a staunch opponent of Britain’s involvement in the First World War – and … More On this day, 1917: Prominent Scottish Socialist John Maclean is Freed from Prison
In 1779 a daring plan was hatched by American revolutionary commanders to invade the port town of Leith. The proposed ‘invasion’ formed part of an audacious campaign to take the fight to British shores as the American Revolution raged across the Atlantic. And it would be led by John Paul Jones, the Scottish-born ‘Father of … More John Paul Jones and the American ‘Invasion’ of Leith
The 6th of June 1944. D-Day. A momentous day in world history. On the morning of 6th June the largest invasion fleet in history dominated the waters of the English Channel as Operation Overlord began. The amphibious landings that were about to take place cost an untold number of man hours to coordinate over several … More On This Day, 1944: The Normandy Landings Begin
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