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Feature articles on Scottish history, heritage, and archaeology
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The Inchtuthil Nail Hoard
In 1959 during excavation of the legionary fortress at Inchtuthil near Dunkeld headed by Sir Ian Richmond, archaeologists uncovered a singularly remarkable haul of a single kind of artefact.
Located in a twelve-foot deep pit...
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Ruthven Barracks during the Jacobite ’45
Situated on the south side of the River Spey overlooking the small town of Kingussie in Badenoch, Ruthven Barracks was one of four highland barracks that were constructed following the Jacobite Rising of 1715....
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Battle of Dunkeld during the Jacobite Rising of 1689
At the battle of Dunkeld on 21 August 1689, the Jacobites under the command of Brigadier-General Alexander Cannon attacked a Scottish government force of Cameronians, commanded by Lieutenant-Colonel William Cleland, in and around the town...
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Highbridge Skirmish: Opening shots of the Jacobite ’45
On 16 August 1745, two companies from the 2nd Battalion of St Clair’s 1st Regiment of Foot (Royal Scots) marching to reinforce the garrison of Fort William were attacked by a party of Macdonalds...
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Battle of Killiecrankie and the Jacobite Rising of 1689
At the battle of Killiecrankie on 27 July 1689, Scottish government forces under the command of Major-General Hugh Mackay of Scourie were defeated by a Jacobite army loyal to the deposed King James commanded...
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The Royal Navy’s capture of Eilean Donan Castle
During the Jacobite Rising of 1719, Royal Navy warships attacked and captured the Spanish-held Eilean Donan Castle in Kintail. The castle was the main Jacobite base and was cannonaded into submission before being seized...
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Battle of Loch nan Uamh during the Jacobite ’45
On 3 May 1746, three Royal Navy warships sailed into Loch nan Uamh in Arisaig and engaged two French privateers that had arrived to deliver weapons and money for the Jacobites.
The French privateers, Le...
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The Lost Legion: A Personal Search
In my article – Disappearance of the Ninth Legion – I set out to address the probable fate of the famous Roman Ninth Legion – the IX Hispana –which mysteriously disappeared early in the...
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Massacre of Glencoe: Last act of the Highland War
In the early hours of 13 February 1692, Scottish government soldiers under the command of Captain Robert Campbell of Glenlyon fell upon their hosts, the Macdonalds of Glencoe. In a cold-blooded breach of highland...
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Siege of Inveraray during the Jacobite Rising of 1715
In October 1715, the western Jacobite clans under Major-General Alexander Gordon of Auchintoul marched into Argyllshire with the intention of capturing the town and castle of Inveraray, the capital of Clan Campbell and the...
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Duke of Cumberland’s ‘new’ bayonet drill
No account of the battle of Culloden would be complete without mention of the Duke of Cumberland’s ‘new’ bayonet drill that was supposedly introduced to his infantry battalions while they were in camp in...
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Battle of Glen Trool: A victory for Robert the Bruce?
Bruce's Stone at the head of Loch Trool in Galloway overlooks the site where it is said that Robert the Bruce defeated an Anglo-Scottish force led by Aymer de Valance, Earl of Pembroke. Bruce's...
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Mons Graupius Identified
“…which will you choose – to follow your leader into battle, or to submit to taxation, labour in the mines, and all the other tribulations of slavery? Whether you are to endure these for...
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Roman roads in Scotland
Myth and fable surround much common understanding of Roman roads, they are for instance proverbial for their straightness and all lead to Rome. Or at least so we are commonly told. The purpose of...
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The Siege of Newcastle 1644
Crossing the Tweed in January 1644, the Army of the Solemn League and Covenant, led by Alexander Leslie, Earl of Leven advanced rapidly into England in support of the English Parliament and only narrowly...
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Roman Forts in Scotland
Scotland can boast of a great many Roman forts, though unfortunately few now have upstanding remains. Often all that can be seen is the profile of the flat fort platform. In some instances, however,...
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The Tribes of Ancient Scotland
Authors note: Before we proceed, we would like to offer a quick explanation of the title of this article and the thoughts driving the article's production. Scotland is an ancient country, older than most other...
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Disappearance of the Ninth Legion
Pick up a paper or read a web article which makes mention of the mysterious disappearance of the Roman Ninth Legion - IX Hispana - from the historical record and chances are these days...
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Wade’s Bridge at Aberfeldy
Wade's Bridge at Aberfeldy was constructed in 1733 to carry Lieutenant-General George Wade’s Crieff to Dalnacardoch military road across the River Tay. It was architecturally the finest bridge on the military road network and...
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Siege of Blair Castle during the Jacobite Rising of 1745
On the 17th March 1746, a Jacobite force under the command of Lord George Murray began the siege of Blair Castle in Blair Atholl, Perthshire. Blair Castle was the home of Lord George’s pro-Hanoverian...
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Effects of Multiple Monarchy on 17th Century Scotland
The ascension to the English throne of James VI, King of Scots in 1603 was a monumental event in the history of both Scotland and England. But as the King of Scots headed south,...
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Spanish Galleon of Tobermory Bay
Following their defeat at the hands of the English navy in the summer of 1588, the surviving ships of the Spanish Armada were forced to make their way home around the north and west...