Seall an tùs aig Rìoghachd na h-Alba

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[[File:Scotland-2016-Aerial-Stirling-Stirling_Castle.jpg|thumb|Caisteal Shruighlea a bha fada ’na shuidheachan aig rìghrean na h-Alba]]
Bha '''Rìoghachd na h-Alba''' ([[Beurla Ghallda]]: ''Kinrick o Scotland'') 'na stàit neo-eisimeileach ann an iar-thuath na [[Roinn Eòrpa]]. Thathar ag ràdh a ghnàth gun deach a chur air bhonn ann an 843 agus gun deach aonadh le [[Rìoghachd Shasainn]] ann an 1707, a' toirt gu bith [[Rìoghachd na Breatainne Mòire]]. Dh'fhàs agus chrìon am fearann aice thairis air na linntean, gu sònraichte, leis gu bheil e suidhichte mu thuath Eileanan Bhreatainn le crìoch ri Sasainn, mu dheas. Bhris na Sasannaich a-steach oirre iomadh turas, gu sònraichte fo [[Èideard III Shasainn|rìgh Èideard III]] agus strì i, gu soirbheachail, airson a neo-eisimeileachd fo [[Raibeart I na h-Alba|rìgh Raibeart I]] ann an [[Cogaidhean neo-eisimeileachd na h-Alba|cogaidhean neo-eisimeileachd na h-Alba]] agus bha i 'na stàit neo-eisimeileach air feadh nam [[Meadhan-aoisean|meadhan-aoisean]]. Ghabh [[Seumas VI na h-Alba is Seumas I Shasainn|Seumas VI na h-Alba]] rìgh-chathair Shasainn ann an 1603, a' toirt còmhla Alba agus Sasainn ann an aonadh pearsanta. Cha deach an dà rìoghachd aonadh gu tur gu ruige 1707 nuair a thàinig iad còmhla ann an [[Achd an Aonaidh 1707]], a' toirt gu bith Rìoghachd na Breatainne Mòire. A bharrachd air borgh rìoghail [[Bearuig]] le Rìoghachd Shasainn ann an 1482 (dìreach an dèidh glacadh nan [[Na h-Eileanan a Tuath|Eileanan a Tuath]] o [[Rìoghachd Nirribhidh]] ann an 1472), bha fearann Rìoghachd na h-Alba o shean agus Alba an-diugh cha mhòr co-ionnann, leis a' [[An Cuan a Tuath|Chuan a Tuath]] san ear, an [[An Cuan Siar|Cuan Siar]] san iar is san iar-thuath agus [[Cuan na h-Èireann]] san iar-dheas.
[[File:British isles 802.jpg|thumb|left|Rìoghachd na h-Alba, Dàil Riada, Rìoghachd Shrath Chluaidh is msaa mun bhliadhna 802]]
B' e an crùn am pìos as cudromaiche dhen riaghaltas san linn seo. Mus dàinig [[Dùn Èideann]] gu bhith 'na phrìomh bhaile san dàrna leth dhen chòigeamh linn deug, 's e monarcachd siubhail a bh' aig Alba sna meadhan-aoisean. Bha a' chùirt aig teis-mheadhan saoghal poileataigeach na dùthcha agus thàinig e gu bhith 'na àite a thug dìon, taic is cothrom taisbeanaidh dha na h-ealain cuideachd san t-siathamh linn deug gus an deach a leigeil mu sgaoil ann an Aonadh an Dà Chrùn ann an 1603. Thog crùn na h-Alba na h-oifisean a bha cumanta ann an cuairtean taobh an iar na Roinn Eòrpa aig an àm agus stèidhicheadh [[Comhairle Dhìomhair na h-Alba|comhairle dhìomhair]] agus oifisean na stàite. Dh'èirich a' Phàrlamaid mar bhuidheann reachdais cuideachd is smachd aice air cìsean is poileasaidhean ach 'na àm, cha robh e cho cumhachdach cudromach ann an Alba 's a bha a chèile ann an Sasainn. Bha rìghrean tràth na h-Alba an eisimeil nan tighearnan mòra, na morairean is na toisich, ach a-mach o riaghladh [[Daibhidh I na h-Alba|Dhaibhidh I]], chaidh siorrachdan a stèidheachadh a thug smachd dìreach dhan rìgh is, mean air mhean, a chuingich cumhachdan nan tighearnasan mòra. Chaidh [[britheamhan na sìthe]] agus [[coimiseanairean an t-solair]] a stèidheachadh san t-seachdamh linn deug agus rinn iad seo obair an riaghaltais fada nas èifeachdaiche. Ach air an làimh eile, bha [[baran cùirte|barain na cùirte]] ann fhathast agus dhaingnich na tighearnan ionadail an cuid cumhachd le bhith a' stèidheachadh [[seiseanan na h-eaglaise]].
[[File:Queen Mary SNPG.JPG|thumb|right|Ìomhaigh Màiri Bànrigh nan Albannach taobh a-muigh [[Gailearaidh Nàiseanta na h-Alba]]]]
Thàinig an lagh Albannach gu bhith 'na rian fa leth sna meadhan-aoisean is chaidh ath-leasachadh is còdachadh san t-siathamh agus san t-seachdamh linn deug. Fo Sheumas IV, thòisich cùirt rìoghail an t-seisein air coinneachadh gach latha ann an Dùn Èideann agus chaidh [[Colaiste Rìoghail a' Cheartais]] a stèidheachadh ann an 1532 agus ri linn sinn fhuair an luchd-lagha Albannach trèanadh nas fhearr.

B' e Daibhidh I a' chiad rìgh Albannach a bhuail a bhuinn-airgid fhèin fhad 's fhios dhuinne. Roimhe sin, bhiodh buinn na h-Alba cha mhòr co-ionnann ris an fheadhainn Shasannach a thaobh na bh' annta de dh'airgead ach a-mach o 1300, chaidh a' chuibhreann de dh'airgead an lughad na bu luaithe na ann an Sasainn. Aig àm Aonadh an Dà Chrùn, bha an dà-dheicheamh uiread a luach sa phunnd Albannach 's a bha sa phunnd Sasannach. Chaidh an t-airgead Albannach à bith aig àm Achd an Aonaidh ach tha na bancaichean Albannach a' clò-bhualadh notaichean Albannach sònraichte fhathast agus is ann aig [[Banca Rìoghail na h-Alba]] a tha an aon not luach £1 san Rìoghachd Aonaichte an-diugh.
[[File:Declaration_of_arbroath.jpg|thumb|Foirgheall Obar Bhrothaig 1320 anns an do dhaingnich uaislean na dùthcha neo-eisimeileachd na h-Alba]]
Tha cladach na h-Alba cho fada 's a tha cladach Shasainn is na Cuimrigh còmhla is paileat mòr eileanan 'na cheann. San iar-thuath, tha na h-eileanan agus a' Ghàidhealtachd bheanntach agus san ear is mu dheas, a' Ghalldachd. 

Nuair a bhuail [[a' phlàigh-dhubh]] air Alba, bha an sluagh air fàs o leth-mhillean gu millean ach ri linn na plàighe, thuit sinn gu millean. Thòisich e air fàs a-rithist sa chiad phàirt dhen t-siathamh linn deug agus sna 1690, bha mu 1.2 millean duine a' fuireach ann.

Aig toiseach nam meadhan-aoise, b' i a' Ghàidhlig an cànan as cudromaiche ann an Alba ach bha a-riamh [[Seann-Bheurla]] (sinnsir na Beurla Ghallda), [[Lochlannais]] agus [[Fraingis]] a-staigh san àireamh cuideachd. Cha d'fhuair a' Bheurla Ghallda làmh an uachdar ach mu thoiseach na linn nuadh. 

Ràinig Crìosdaidheachd Alba san t-siathamh linn. San linn Fraingis, dh'atharraich eaglais na h-Alba gu mòr agus dh'èirich ùird mhanach is buidhnean cràbhach ùra ri linn sin. Bhuail ùpraid mhòr air eaglaisean ann an Alba san t-siathamh linn deug, an t-[[Ath-leasachadh]] Pròstanach a thoiseach air chàch agus às a sin, dh'èirich [[Eaglais na h-Alba]] a bha gu math [[Calbhanachas|Calbhanach]] 'na nàdar. Bha creideamh 'na chuspair connspaideach fad ùine mhòr agus dh'èirich iomadh sgaradh is geur-leanmhainn 'na chois.

Ged a stèidhich crùn na h-Alba feachdan mara aig diofar amannan 'na h-eachdraidh, 's e prìobhadairean a bh' annta gu tric is iad ri [[guerre de course]]. Bha an t-[[arm coitcheann]] an teis-mheadhan nam feachdan tìre ach ghabhadh ri iomadh rud is gleus ùr cuideachd a nochd san Roinn Eòrpa san t-siathamh linn deug cuideachd. A dh'aindeoin sin, bha iomadh Albannach a' strì san arm Sasannach mar shaighdear-tuarastail. 

Bha an dà chuid [[bratach an leòmhainn]] agus [[crois Naomh Anndra]] 'nam brataichean aig Alba agus chaidh an tè mu dheireadh sin fhilleadh a-staigh do bhratach an Aonaidh ann an 1603.

==Eachdraidh==
===An toiseach: 400–943===
[[File:Dunadd_Fort_20080427.jpg|thumb|Dùn Ada, ràth Dhail Riata]]
On chòigeamh linn AD a-mach, bha taobh tuath Bhreatainn air a roinn eadar diofar rìoghachdan beaga. ’Nam measg seo, b' e rìoghachd nan [[Cruithneach]] san ear-thuath, Albannaich [[Dail Riata|Dhail Riata]] san iar, Breatannaich [[Rìoghachd Shrath Chluaidh]] san iar-dheas agus [[Bernicia]], rìoghachd nan [[Anglaich|Anglach]] (a chaidh aontachadh mar rìoghachd [[Northumbria]] ann an 653) san ear-dheas, a’ gabhail a-staigh pìos de Shasainn a Tuath. Thàinig an dà latha air an t-suidheachadh seo ann an 793 nuair a thòisich na Lochlannaich air dubh-chreachadh nam manachainn, mar [[Ì|Mhanachainn Ì]] agus [[Lindisfarne]], rud a dh’adhbharaich eagal is tro chèile am measg rìoghachdan taobh tuath Bhreatainn. Thàinig [[Arcaibh]], [[Sealtainn]] agus [[Innse Gall]] gu tur fo smachd nan Lochlannach aig a’ cheann thall.<ref>W. E. Burns, ''A Brief History of Great Britain'' (Infobase Publishing, 2009), ISBN 0816077282, pp. 44-5.</ref> Dh’fhaoidte gun do luathaich an cunnart seo Gàidhealachadh rìoghachdan nan Cruithneach a ghabh cànan is gnàthasan nan Gàidheal thar ùine. Thàinig an dà rìoghachd, Dail Riata agus Rìoghachd nan Cruithneach, còmhla aig a’ cheann thall, ged a tha deasbad ann a thaobh cò fhuair làmh an uachdair air cò. Ri linn sin, ghabh [[Coinneach I na h-Alba]] (no ''Cínaed mac Ailpín'' mar a th’ air sna làmh-sgrìobhainnean), ainm "Rìgh nan Cruithneach sna 840an (mar is trice, ’s e 843 a’ bhliadhna a tha ’ga h-ainmeachadh)<ref name="Webster1997p15">B. Webster, ''Medieval Scotland: the Making of an Identity'' (St. Martin's Press, 1997), ISBN 0333567617, p. 15.</ref> agus leis a sin, stèidhich e [[Sliochd Ailpein]].<ref name="Yorke2006p54">B. Yorke, ''The Conversion of Britain: Religion, Politics and Society in Britain c.600-800'' (Pearson Education, 2006), ISBN 0582772923, p. 54.</ref> Nuair a chaochail e ann an 900, thàinig [[Dòmhnall II na h-Alba]] ’na àite agus b' esan a’ chiad neach air an robh ''rí Alban'' (i.e. ''Rìgh na h-Alba'').<ref>A. O. Anderson, ''Early Sources of Scottish History, A.D. 500 to 1286'' (General Books LLC, 2010), vol. i, ISBN 1152215728, p. 395.</ref> Dh’fhas ''Alba'' agus ''Scotia'' cumanta mar ainm air cridhe rìoghachdan nan rìghrean seo tuath air [[Abhainn Foirthe]] agus aig a’ cheann thall, bha ''Scotland'' aig daoine air an rìoghachd air fad a bha aig rìghrean na h-Alba sa Bheurla Ghallda agus cànain eile.<ref name="Webster1997p22">B. Webster, ''Medieval Scotland: the Making of an Identity'' (St. Martin's Press, 1997), ISBN 0333567617, pp. 22.</ref> Fhuair [[Còiseam I na h-Alba]] an crùn ’na dhèidh, no ''Constantín mac Cináeda'' mar a bha air ’na linn agus bha an riaghladh fada aige glè chudromach do stèidheachadh Rìoghachd na h-Alba agus fhuair e cliù mar am fear a thug còmhla an Eaglais Albannach agus an [[Eaglais Chaitligeach]].<ref>A. Woolf, ''From Pictland to Alba: 789 - 1070'' (Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press, 2007), ISBN 0748612343, p. 128.</ref>

===Fàs: 943–1513===
[[File:Battle_of_Largs_(detail),_1263.JPG|thumb|Blàr na Leargaidh Ghallda]]
Bha buaidh aig rìghrean na h-Alba air Srath Chluaidh a-mach on 9mh linn ach b’ e [[Maol Chaluim I na h-Alba|Maol Chaluim I]] (no ''Máel Coluim mac Domnaill'' mar a bha air ’na linn, a’ riaghladh eadar 943–954 mu thuaiream) a cheannsaich [[Rìoghachd Shrath Chluaidh|Srath Chluaidh]].<ref>B. T. Hudson, ''Kings of Celtic Scotland'' (Westport: Greenhill 1994), ISBN 0313290873, pp. 95–6.</ref> Thàinig atharrachadh mòr mòr air Rìoghachd na h-Alba ri linn [[Daibhidh I na h-Alba|Daibhidh I]] (''Dabíd mac Maíl Choluim'')<ref name=Barrow1992pp9-11>G. W. S. Barrow, "David I of Scotland: The Balance of New and Old", in G. W. S. Barrow, ed., ''Scotland and Its Neighbours in the Middle Ages'', (London, 1992), pp. 9&ndash;11 pp. 9&ndash;11.</ref><ref>M. Lynch, ''Scotland: A New History'' (Random House, 2011), ISBN 1446475638, p. 80.</ref> is esan a’ cur toirt a-steach rian [[fiùdalachd]] dhan dùthaich, a’ stèidheachadh nan ciad [[Borgh rìoghail|bhuirgh rìoghail]], a’ chiad chùinneadh Albannach agus sreath de ath-leasachaidhean creidmheach is laghail.<ref name="Webster1997pp29-37">B. Webster, ''Medieval Scotland: the Making of an Identity'' (St. Martin's Press, 1997), ISBN 0333567617, pp. 29-37.</ref> Cha robh a’ chrìoch eadar Alba agus Sasainn seasmhach idir suas gun 13mh linn agus ged a chuir Daibhidh I [[Northumbria]] ri Alba, chaill [[ogha]] ’s iar-theachdaire [[Maol Chaluim mac Eanraig|Maol Chaluim IV]] (''Máel Coluim mac Eanric'') e a-rithist ann an 1157.<ref>R. R. Davies, ''The First English Empire: Power and Identities in the British Isles, 1093-1343'' (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2000), ISBN 0198208499, p. 64.</ref> Chaidh a’ chrìoch a stèidheachadh ann an [[Cùmhnant Eabhraic]] ann an 1237, faisg air crìoch ar latha<ref>W. P. L. Thomson, ''The New History of Orkney'' (Edinburgh: Birlinn, 2008), ISBN 184158696X, p. 204.</ref> Mu àm riaghladh [[Alasdair III na h-Alba|Alasdair III]], bha na h-Albannaich air smachd fhaighinn air cladach an iar na dùthchan an dèidh [[Blàr na Leargaidh Ghallda]] ann an [[Cùmhnant Pheairt]] ann an 1266.<ref name="Macquarrie2004p153">A. Macquarrie, ''Medieval Scotland: Kinship and Nation'' (Thrupp: Sutton, 2004), ISBN 0-7509-2977-4, p. 153.</ref> Fhuair Sasainn smachd air [[Eilean Mhanainn]] san 14mh linn ged a rinn na h-Albannaich iomadh oidhirp fhaighinn air ais.<ref>A. Grant and K. J. Stringer, eds, ''Uniting the Kingdom?: the Making of British History'' (London: Routledge, 1995), ISBN 0415130417, p. 101.</ref> Cheannsaich na Sasannaich cuid mhòr de dh'Alba fo [[Èideard I Shasainn|Èideard I]] agus chuir iad pìos mòr dhen Ghalldachd ri Sasainn fo [[Èideard III Shasainn|Èideard III]] ach dhaingnich Alba a neo-eisimeileachd aig deireadh na 13mh linn fo stiùireadh dhaoine mar [[Raibeart I na h-Alba|Raibeart Brus]] agus [[Uilleam Uallas]] agus na rìghrean ’na dhèidh san 14mh linn ann an [[cogaidhean neo-eisimeileachd na h-Alba]] (1296-1357). Fhuair iad taic o rìghrean na Frainge san oidhirp seo, rud ris an can sinn an [[Seann-Chaidreachas|Seann-chaidreachas]] an-diugh, aonta taic a chumail ris a’ chèile an aghaidh Shasainn. Ged a bha an 15mh linn agus toiseach na 16mh linn ’na ùine aimhreiteach buaireasach fo na [[rìghrean Stiùbhartach]], fhuair an crùn barrachd smachd air na tighearnan neo-eisimeileach agus ath-cheannsaich iad fearann a chaill iad roimhe gus an robh an dùthaich cha mhòr cho mòr ’s a tha e an-diugh.<ref name="Bawcutt&Williams2006p21">P. J. Bawcutt and J. H. Williams, ''A Companion to Medieval Scottish Poetry'' (Woodbridge: Brewer, 2006), ISBN 1843840960, p. 21.</ref> Nuair a fhuair crùn na h-Alba Arcaibh agus Sealtainn mar thochradh ann an 1468, b’ e sin am pìos fearainn mòr mu dheireadh a fhuair an rìoghachd.<ref name="J. Wormald, 1991 p. 5">J. Wormald, ''Court, Kirk, and Community: Scotland, 1470-1625'' (Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press, 1991), ISBN 0748602763, p. 5.</ref> Cheannsaich na Sasannaich Bearaig, gearastan-crìche agus am port as motha ann an Alba mheadhan-aoiseil ann an 1482 agus is ann an Sasainn a tha e air a bhith on àm sin.<ref name=Bawcutt&Williams2006p21/> An cois an t-Seann-chaidreachais leis an Fhraing, dh’fhuiling arm nan Albannach call mòr aig [[Blàr Flodden]] ann an 1513 agus ri linn bàs [[Seumas IV Alba|Sheumais IV]] sa bhlàr ud, lean ùine fhada de chugallachd phoilitigeach.<ref name="G. Menzies 2002 p. 179">G. Menzies ''The Scottish Nation'' (Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press, 2002), ISBN 190293038X, p. 179.</ref>

===Daingneachadh is aonadh: 1513–1707===
[[File:JamesIEngland.jpg|thumb|right|upright|Seumas VI, Rìgh na h-Alba, a fhuair crùn na h-Alba agus crùn Shasainn mar dhìleab ’s a dh’aonaich an dà chrùn mar sin ann an 1603]]
Fo [[Seumas V Alba|Sheumas V]] agus [[Màiri Bànrigh nan Albannach]] san 16mh linn, a dh’aindeoin chogaidhean sìobhalta ’s aimhreit nan Sasannach is nam Frangach, thàinig buaidh [[An t-Ath-nuadhachadh|an ath-nuadhachaidh]] agus na [[monarcachd ùr]] air a’ chrùn is a’ chùirt.<ref name="Thomas2012p188">A. Thomas, "The Renaissance", in T. M. Devine and J. Wormald, ''The Oxford Handbook of Modern Scottish History'' (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2012), ISBN 0191624330, p. 188.</ref> Thàinig Alba fo bhuaidh an [[Ath-leasachadh na h-Alba|ath-leasachaidh]] ann am meadhan na 16mh linn, gu sònraichte luchd [[Calbhanachas|Calbhanachais]] agus dh’adhbharaich seo briseadh ìomhaighean na h-Eaglaise fad is farsaing agus chaidh rian [[Clèireachas|Clèireachais]] a stèidheachadh aig an robh buaidh mhòr air beatha nan daoine ann an Alba.<ref>J. Wormald, ''Court, Kirk, and Community: Scotland, 1470-1625'' (Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press, 1991), ISBN 0748602763, pp. 120-33.</ref> Bha [[Seumas VI Alba|Sheumas VI]] ’na eòlaiche cudromach aig deireadh na 16mh linn agus bha ùghdarras mòr aige air an rìoghachd.<ref name="Thomas2012p200">A. Thomas, "The Renaissance", in T. M. Devine and J. Wormald, ''The Oxford Handbook of Modern Scottish History'' (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2012), ISBN 0191624330, p. 200.</ref> Fhuair e crùn Shasainn agus crùn na h-Èireann mar dhìleab ann an 1603, rud a stèidhich [[Aonadh nan Crùn]] (ged a ghlèidh na trì stàitean an cuid buidhnean is an dearbh-aithne nàiseanta fhèin) agus ghluais e suidheachan na cumhachd rìoghail a Lunnainn.<ref>D. L. Smith, ''A History of the Modern British Isles, 1603-1707: The Double Crown'' (Wiley-Blackwell, 1998), ISBN 0631194029, ch. 2.</ref> Dh’fheuch a mhac [[Teàrlach I Shasainn|Teàrlach I]] pìosan de rèite creideimh Shasainn a sparradh air Alba agus dh’adhbharaich seo [[Cogaidhean nan Easbaig]] (1637-40), còmhstri a chaill an rìgh agus chaidh stàit [[Na Cùmhnantaichean|Chùmnantaichean Clèireach]] cha mhòr neo-eisimeileach a stèidheachadh mar thoradh air.<ref name="Mackieetal1991p200-6">J. D. Mackie, B. Lenman and G. Parker, ''A History of Scotland'' (London: Penguin, 1991), ISBN 0140136495, pp. 200-6.</ref> Phiobraich seo [[Cogadh nan Trì Rìoghachdan|cogadh ann an Èirinn is Sasainn]] cuideachd, leis na h-Albannaich a' briseadh a-steach air cùisean gu mòr. An dèidh call Theàrlaich I, chuir na h-Albannaich taic ris an rìgh ann an [[Dàrna Cogadh Sìobhalta Shasainn]] agus nuair a chaidh a chur gu bàs, ghairm iad [[Teàrlach II Shasainn|Teàrlach II]] mar rìgh, rud a dh'adhbharaich [[Treas Cogadh Sìobhalta Shasainn]] an aghaidh poblachd òg Shasainn fo [[Oilibhear Crombalach]]. Dh'fhuiling na h-Albannaich call an dèidh caill agus ri linn sin, chaidh Alba a ghabhail a-staigh ann an [[Co-fhlaitheas Shasainn|Co-fhlaitheas Shasainn, Alba agus Èireann]] fad greis (1653–60).<ref>J. D. Mackie, B. Lenman and G. Parker, ''A History of Scotland'' (London: Penguin, 1991), ISBN 0140136495, pp. 225-6.</ref>

An dèidh [[Aiseag na h-Alba|aiseag]] na monarcachd ann an 1660, fhuair Alba air ais a h-inbhe fa leth agus na h-eagrachasan aice ach dh'fhan cridhe na cumhachd ann an Lunnainn.<ref name="MackieLenman&Parker1991pp241-5">J. D. Mackie, B. Lenman and G. Parker, ''A History of Scotland'' (London: Penguin, 1991), ISBN 0140136495, pp. 241-5.</ref> An dèidh [[An t-Aramach Glòrmhor|an aramaich ghlòrmhoir]] 1688-89 nuair a chaidh [[Seumas II Shasainn|Seumas VII]] a chur às an rìgh-chathair leis an nighean aice, [[Màiri II Shasainn|Màiri]] agus an duine aice, [[Uilleam III Shasainn|Uilleam Orains]] ann an Sasainn, ghabh Alba riutha fo [[Achd Tagradh Còrach 1689]],<ref name="MackieLenman&Parker1991pp241-5"/>, dh'fhan sliochd fuadaichte nan Stiùbhartach aig teis-meadhan cùis nan Seumasach is inneadh iomadh oidhirp an tilleadh tro aramach is strì, gu sònraichte air a' Ghàidhealtachd.<ref>J. D. Mackie, B. Lenman and G. Parker, ''A History of Scotland'' (London: Penguin, 1991), ISBN 0140136495, pp. 283-4.</ref> Bha an eaconamaidh tro chèile gu mòr sna 1690an agus dh'adhbharaich seo aonadh poileataigeach le Sasainn mar [[Rìoghachd na Breatainne Mòire]] 1ad dhen Chèitean 1707. Chaidh Pàrlamaid na h-Alba agus Pàrlamaid Shasainn a chur còmhla ann am [[Pàrlamaid Bhreatainn]] ach leis gun robh e suidhichte ann am Westminster, lean e air cha mhòr mar a bha e roimhe, mar Phàrlamaid Shasainn ach gun deach 45 ball-pàrlamaid Albannach a chur ri 513 ball [[Taigh nan Cumantan]] agus 16 Albannaich ri 190 ball [[Taigh nam Morairean]]. ’S e làn-aonadh eaconamach a bh’ ann cuideachd agus thàinig airgead, cìsean is laghan malairt na h-Alba gu crìoch mar shiostam fa leth leis a sin.<ref name="Mitchison2002p314">R. Mitchison, ''A History of Scotland'' (London: Routledge, 3rd edn., 2002), ISBN 0415278805, p. 314.</ref>

==Riaghaltas==
[[File:Alexander III and Ollamh Rígh.JPG|thumb|left|Crùnadh [[Alasdair III na h-Alba|Alasdair III]] air [[Tom a' Mhòid]], [[Sgàin]], le [[Morair Shrath Èireann|Morairean Shrath Èireann]] agus [[Morair Fhìobha]] ri thaobh fhad ’s a tha am bàrd rìoghail a’ sloinntearachd freumh Alasdair.]]

Ghlèidh rìoghachd aonaichte na h-Alba cuid a ghnàthasan a bhiodh aig na Cruithnich roimhe. Chithear seo sna gnàthasan ealanta aig crùnadh [[Sgàin]].<ref name="Webster1997pp45-7">B. Webster, ''Medieval Scotland: the Making of an Identity'' (St. Martin's Press, 1997), ISBN 0333567617, pp. 45-7.</ref> Ged a bha monarcachd na h-Alba sna meadhan-aoisean a' siubhal o àite gu àite a ghnàth, bha Sgàin fhathast am measg nan àitichean as cudromaiche agus dh'fhàs caistealan rìoghail mar [[Caisteal Shruighlea|Chaisteal Shruighlea]] agus [[Caisteal Pheairt|Chaisteal Pheairt]] cudromach aig deireadh nam meadhan-aoisean mus do dh'fhàs [[Dùn Èideann]] 'na cheanna-bhail ann an dàrna leth na còigeamh linn dheug.<ref name=McNeil&MacQueenpp159-63>P. G. B. McNeill and Hector L. MacQueen, eds, ''Atlas of Scottish History to 1707'' (Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press, 1996), pp. 159–63.</ref><ref name="Wormald1991pp14-5">J. Wormald, ''Court, Kirk, and Community: Scotland, 1470–1625'' (Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press, 1991), ISBN 0748602763, pp. 14-15.</ref> Ged a bha iomadh rìgh ann nach robh aig inbheachd, mhair an crùn ann mar phrìomh-eileamaid an riaghaltais. Aig deireadh nam meadhan-aoisean, thàinig an aon at air a’ chrùn ’s a thàinig air feadhainn eile san Roinn Eòrpa.<ref>J. D. Mackie, B. Lenman and G. Parker, [http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=jGYDyP0xkFcC&pg=PT150&dq=renaissance+scotland+monarchy&hl=En&ei=-D2dT_iHIaPN0QXwrJDlDg&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=book-thumbnail&resnum=3&ved=0CEcQ6wEwAg#v=onepage&q=renaissance%20scotland%20monarchy&f=false ''A History of Scotland''] (London: Penguin, 1991), ISBN 0140136495.</ref> Chaidh teòirigean air cuingeachadh na monarcachd agus comhaireachd a dheasbad ann an Alba, gu sònraiche le [[Seòras Bochanan]] san 16mh linn ach bhrosnaiche [[Seumas VI na h-Alba is Seumas I Shasainn|Rìgh Seumas VI]] teòirig [[còir dhiadhaidh rìghrean]] agus dh'èirich an deasbad seo a-rithist 's a-rithist, rìgh air rìgh, èiginn air èiginn. Dh'fhuirich a' chùirt rìoghail fhathast aig teis-mheadhan an t-saoghail phoilitigich agus b' e a' chùirt prìomh-ionad taisbeanadh nan ealain agus cùl-taic nan ealain a-mach on t-siathamh linn dheug gus an deach a leigeil mu sgaoil aig àm [[Aonadh nan Crùintean]] ann an 1603.<ref name="Thomas2012pp200-2">A. Thomas, "The Renaissance", in T. M. Devine and J. Wormald, ''The Oxford Handbook of Modern Scottish History'' (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2012), ISBN 0191624330, pp. 200-2.</ref>

Thog crùn na h-Alba na dreuchdan a bha cumanta ann an cùirtean taobh an iar na Roinn Eòrpa, mar an [[Stiùbhard na h-Alba|stiùbhard]], [[Seumarlan na h-Alba|seumarlan]], [[Constabal na h-Alba|constabal]], [[Marasgal na h-Alba|marasgal]] agus [[Seansalair na h-Alba|seansalair]].<ref name=Barrow1965pp11-12>G. W. S. Barrow, Robert Bruce (Berkeley CA.: University of California Press, 1965), pp. 11-12.</ref> Dh'fhàs Comhairle an Rìgh na bhuidheann làn-ùine sa chòigeamh linn dheug agus thar ùine, fhuair daoine nach robh nan clèireach agus a bha tàireil air rian a' cheartais làmh an uachdair ann.<ref name="Wormald1991pp22-3">J. Wormald, ''Court, Kirk, and Community: Scotland, 1470–1625'' (Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press, 1991), ISBN 0748602763, pp. 22-3.</ref> Bha [[Comhairle Dhìomhair na h-Alba|a' chomhairle dhìomhair]], a thàinig gu bith aig meadhan na siathamh linn dheug,<ref name="Goodacre2004pp35&130">J. Goodacre, ''The Government of Scotland, 1560-1625'' (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2004), ISBN 0199243549, pp. 35 and 130.</ref> agus oifisean mòra na stàite, a' gabhail a-staigh an t-seansalair, rùnaire agus agus [[Ionmhasair na h-Alba|ionmhasair]], aig teis-mheadhan rianachd an riaghaltais fad ùine mhòr, fiù an dèidh dha na monarcan Stiùbhartach falbh a Shasainn a-mach o 1603.<ref name="Goodacre2004pp150-1">J. Goodacre, ''The Government of Scotland, 1560-1625'' (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2004), ISBN 0199243549, pp. 150-1.</ref> Ge-tà, chaidh a chur gu taobh gu tric agus chaidh cur às dha an dèidh [[Achd an Aonaidh]] ann an 1707 agus chaidh Alba a riaghladh calg-dhìreach o Lunnainn an uairsin.<ref>J. D. Mackie, B. Lenman and G. Parker, ''A History of Scotland'' (London: Penguin, 1991), ISBN 0140136495, p. 287.</ref> Dh'fhàs a' Phàrlamaid na bhuidheann chudromach cuideachd agus fhuair e smachd air cùisean co-cheangailte ri cìsean is poileasaidhean.<ref>K. M. Brown and R. J. Tanner, ''The History of the Scottish Parliament volume 1: Parliament and Politics, 1235-1560'' (Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press, 2004), pp. 1-28.</ref> Bha i a' suidhe cha mhòr gach bliadhna aig deireadh nam Meadhan Aoisean, gu sònraichte leis gun robh uiread a rìghrean mion-aoiseach is tànaisteachdan ann sna linntean ud, rud a chùm a' mhonarcachd o bhith ga chur gu taobh ma dh'fhaoidte.<ref name="Wormald1991p21">J. Wormald, ''Court, Kirk, and Community: Scotland, 1470–1625'' (Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press, 1991), ISBN 0748602763, p. 21.</ref> Bha e air leth cudromach ann an rianachd na dùthcha tràth san linn ùr, a' stèidheachadh laghan is cìsean ach dh'fhàs is chrìon a' bhuaidh aice agus cha robh e a-riamh cho cudromach ann an Alba 's a bha e ann an Sasainn gus an deach cur às dha ann an 1707.<ref>R. Mitchison, ''A History of Scotland'' (London: Routledge, 3rd edn., 2002), ISBN 0415278805, p. 128.</ref>

Bha rìghrean tràtha nan Albannach gu mòr an eisimeil tighearnan mòra nam [[mormaer]] (morairean), a bha ann ro linn nan [[iarla]]n, agus nan [[toísech]] (toiseach), a bha ann ro na [[taidhn]]ichean ach a-mach o rìoghachd Daibhidh I, chaidh [[siorramachd]]an a stèidheachadh a thug barrachd smachd dìreach dhan rìgh agus a chuingich cumhachd nan tighearnasan mòra mean air mhean.<ref name=McNeil&MacQueenpp191-4>P. G. B. McNeill and Hector L. MacQueen, eds, ''Atlas of Scottish History to 1707'' (Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press, 1996), pp. 191-4.</ref> Chaidh [[maor-ceartais|maoir-cheartai]] agus [[Coimiseanairean an t-Solair]] a stèidheachadh san t-seachdamh linn dheug agus dh'fhàs an riaghaltas ionadail fada nas èifeachdaiche ri linn sin.<ref>R. A. Houston, I. D. Whyte, ''Scottish Society, 1500-1800'' (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2005), ISBN 0521891671, p. 202.</ref> Eadar bàrain na cùirte a chùm a' dol agus stèidheachadh seiseanan na h-Eaglaise, chaidh aca cumhachd nan tighearnan ionadail a dhaingneachadh.<ref>R. Mitchison, ''Lordship to Patronage, Scotland 1603-1745'' (Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press, 1983), ISBN 074860233X, pp. 80-1.</ref>

==Lagh==
[[File:Regiam.Majestatem.preface.page.jpg|thumb|right|upright|'S e an [[Regiam Majestatem]] an geàrr-chunntas as sine de lagh na h-Alba a tha againn fhathast an-diugh.]]
Dh'fhàs lagh na h-Alba na lagh fa leth sna meadhan aoisean agus chaidh ath-leasachadh is a sgrìobhadh sìos san t-siathamh is san t-seachdamh linn dheug. Chan eil againn ach tomhas air cò ris a bha lagha na h-Alba coltach ron aonamh linn dheug,<ref name="Thronton2009">D. E. Thornton, "Communities and kinship", in P. Stafford, ed., ''A Companion to the Early Middle Ages: Britain and Ireland, c.500-c.1100'' (Chichester: Wiley-Blackwell, 2009), ISBN 140510628X, pp. 98.</ref> ach 's mathaid gun robh e na mheasgachadh de dhiofar thradaiseanan lagha a thàinig a-nuas o na sluaghan a bha a' fuireach ann an Alba aig an àm, a' gabhail a-steach gnàthasan nam [[Breatannaich (eachdraidheil)|Breatannach]], [[Èireannaich|Èireannach]] and [[Angla-Shasannaich|Angla-Shasannach]].<ref>[http://www.ll.georgetown.edu/guides/scottishlegalhistory.cfm Scottish Legal History: A Research Guide], Georgetown Law Library, retrieved 2011-10-22.</ref> Tha an tràchd laghail air a bheil ''[[Leges inter Brettos et Scottos]]'' "Laghan eadar na Breatannaich agus na h-Albannaich" a' stèidheachadh rian ath-dhìol airson leòn no bàs a-rèir inbhe agus dlùth-chomann nan dàimhean.<ref name="Grant1993">A. Grant, "Thanes and Thanages, from the eleventh to the fourteenth centuries" in A. Grant and K. Stringer, eds., ''Medieval Scotland: Crown, Lordship and Community, Essays Presented to G. W. S. Barrow'' (Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press, 1993), ISBN 074861110X, p. 42.</ref> Bha cùirtean poblach ann, na ''còmhdhailean'', mar a tha pailteas de dh'ainmean-àite ann an taobh an ear na h-Alba ag innse.<ref name="McNeil&MacQueenpp191-4"/> Sna ceàrnaidhean a bha fo smachd nan Lochlannach, b' e [[lagh ùdail]] bun-stèidh an [[rian laghail]] agus tha fhios gun deach cìsean a thogail sna h-Eileanan Siar a rèir [[Tìr-unga|ungannan]].<ref>N. Sharples and R. Smith, "Norse settlement in the Western Isles" in A. Woolf, ed., ''Scandinavian Scotland – Twenty Years After'' (St Andrews: St Andrews University Press), ISBN 978-0-9512573-7-1, pp. 104, 109 and 124.</ref> 'S e cruinneachadh a-muigh aig an riaghaltas a bha sna [[Uil-thing|h-uil-thingean]], an làthair [[iarla]] agus bha cead aig cha mhòr fireannach saor sam bith a dhol ann. Chaidh co-dhùnaidhean a ghabhail, laghan a chruthachadh agus breithean a thoirt air gearain aig na coinneamhan seo.<ref>[http://www.hurstwic.org/history/articles/society/text/laws.htm "Laws and legal procedures"], ''hurstwic.org'', retrieved 15 August 2010.</ref>

Nuair a thàinig [[fiùdalachd]] a dh'Alba fo rìgh [[Daibhidh I na h-Alba|Daibhidh I]], bha buaidh dhomhain aige air lagh na h-Alba oir stèidhich seo [[sealbh fearainn fiùdalach]] ann an iomadh sgìre ann an taobh a deas is an ear na dùthcha agus mean air mhean, sgaoil seo air feadh na dùthcha.<ref name="ReidandZimmerman2000Ip20">K. Reid and R. Zimmerman, ''A History of Private Law in Scotland: I. Introduction and Property'' (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2000), ISBN 0-19-829941-9, p. 20.</ref> Ged a bhiodh an rìgh ag ainmeachadh siorraman mar luchd-rianachd is luchd-togail chìsean rìoghail o shean, ghabh iad ri dreuchdan laghail thar ùine.<ref name="ReidandZimmerman2000Ip23">K. Reid and R. Zimmerman, ''A History of Private Law in Scotland: I. Introduction and Property'' (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2000), ISBN 0-19-829941-9, p. 23.</ref> Chùm tighearnan fiùdalach cùirtean cuideachd airson còmhstrithean eadar na gabhaltaichean aca a bhreithneachadh. Mun cheathramh linn deug, bha cuid dhe na cùirtean fiùdalach seo air fàs cho làidir 's gun robh iad cha mhòr nan rìoghachdan beaga fa leth anns nach robh ùghdarras aig cùirtean an Rìgh ach nuair a thigeadh e gu brathadh.<ref>Stair, vol. 22, para. 509 (Online) Retrieved 2011-10-26</ref> Bha laghan ionadail aig na [[borgh]]an cuideachd a bha, mar is trice, a' dèiligeadh ri cùisean co-cheangailte ri marsantachd is malairt a dh'fhàs car coltach ri obair cùirtean nan siorraman.<ref name="ReidandZimmerman2000Ip24">K. Reid and R. Zimmerman, ''A History of Private Law in Scotland: I. Introduction and Property'' (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2000), ISBN 0-19-829941-9, p. 24.</ref> Cha robh uachdranas laghail ach aig cùirtean na h-eaglaise a thaobh phòsaidhean, cùmhnantan stèidhichte air bòidean, oighreachd is dligheachd-bhreithe.<ref name="ReidandZimmerman2000Ip30">K. Reid and R. Zimmerman, ''A History of Private Law in Scotland: I. Introduction and Property'' (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2000), ISBN 0-19-829941-9, p. 30.</ref> Bha na ''judices'' nan oifigearan rìoghail a chùm sùil air na "cùirtean" ìseal, mar chùirtean nam baran, aba no feadhainn eile aig an ìre ud.<ref name=Barrow2003pp69-109>G. W. S. Barrow, ''The Kingdom of the Scots'' (Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press, 2003). pp. 69–82.</ref> Ach a dh'aindeoin sin, b' e an [[giuistear]] prìomh-oifigear an lagha ann an Rìoghachd na h-Alba an dèidh Dhaibhidh I agus chumadh e cùirtean agus thugadh e aithrisean dhan rìgh fhèin gu pearsanta. Bha dà ghiuistear ann mar is trice a-rèir crìochan nan cànan ann an Alba: Giuistear na h-Alba agus Giuistear Lodainn ach bha giustear fa leth aig [[Gall-Ghàidhealaibh]] aig amannan.<ref name=Barrow2003pp69-109/> Thàinig [[lagh coitcheann]] na h-Alba, an ''[[ius commune]]'', gu bith aig deireadh na linne seo a thug còmhla gnàthasan lagha na  Gàidheal is nam Breatannach agus feadhainn à Sasainn nan Angla-Nòrmannach agus tìr-mòr na Roinn Eòrpa.<ref>D. H. S. Sellar, "Gaelic Laws and Institutions", in M. Lynch, ed., ''The Oxford Companion to Scottish History'' (New York, 2001), pp. 381–82.</ref>

[[File:Great window Parliament Hall Edinburgh.jpg|thumb|left|upright|Cur air chois [[Cùirt an t-Seisein]] le [[Seumas V na h-Alba|Seumas V]] ann an 1532, o uinneag mhòr Taigh na Pàrlamaid ann an Dùn Èideann]]
Tha fianais ann gun do rinn Rìgh [[Èideard I Shasainn|Èideard I]] oidhirp air laghan Albannach a bha ann an còmhstri le laghan Shasainn a chur gu neoini mar a rinn e sa Chuimrigh.<ref name="ReidandZimmerman2000Ip36">K. Reid and R. Zimmerman, ''A History of Private Law in Scotland: I. Introduction and Property'' (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2000), ISBN 0-19-829941-9, p. 36.</ref> Fo Rìgh Raibeart I ann an 1318, chuir pàrlamaid aig [[Sgàin]] còd laghan an gnìomh a bha stèidhichte air seann-ghnàthaidhean. Mhìnich e mar a chumar triailean eucorach agus an dìon aig [[basaille]]an o fhuadachadh.<ref name="ReidandZimmerman2000Ip41">K. Reid and R. Zimmerman, ''A History of Private Law in Scotland: I. Introduction and Property'' (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2000), ISBN 0-19-829941-9, p. 41.</ref> Tha sgrìobhainnean tràtha lagh na h-Alba againn an-diugh a tha a' dol air ais chun na ceathreamh linn deug, mar an ''[[Regiam Majestatem]]'' (''a thaobh ghnàthasan sna cùirtean rìoghail) agus an ''Quoniam Attachiamenta'' (''a thaobh ghnàthasan sna cùirtean baranach), a thug a-steach an dà chuid an lagh coitcheann agus [[lagh nan Ròmanach]].<ref name="ReidandZimmerman2000Ipp42&46">K. Reid and R. Zimmerman, ''A History of Private Law in Scotland: I. Introduction and Property'' (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2000), ISBN 0-19-829941-9, pp. 42 and 46.</ref>

Thug na rìghrean Stiùbhartach ionnsaigh air an lagh ghnàthachail, mar lagh [[Clann 'icDhubhaich|Chlann 'icDhubhaich]] agus dh'fhàs na ceàrnaidhean far an robh an lagh coitcheann an gnìomh ri linn sin.<ref name="ReidandZimmerman2000Ip56">K. Reid and R. Zimmerman, ''A History of Private Law in Scotland: I. Introduction and Property'' (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2000), ISBN 0-19-829941-9, p. 56.</ref> Thàinig an dreuchd laghail gu bith a-mach o rìoghachd [[Seumas I, Rìgh na h-Alba|Sheumais I]] agus chaidh rianachd a' cheartais eucoirich agus shìobhalta a' toirt cruinn.<ref name="ReidandZimmerman2000Ip52">K. Reid and R. Zimmerman, ''A History of Private Law in Scotland: I. Introduction and Property'' (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2000), ISBN 0-19-829941-9, p. 52.</ref> Leis gun robh obair na pàrlamaid a' fàs agus leis gun robhar a' toirt rianachd na dùthcha cruinn ann an Alba, bha feum air dòighean nas fheàrr airson achdan na pàrlamaid a sgaoileadh chun nan cùirtean is luchd-èigneachaidh eile an lagha.<ref name="ReidandZimmerman2000Ip65">K. Reid and R. Zimmerman, ''A History of Private Law in Scotland: I. Introduction and Property'' (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2000), ISBN 0-19-829941-9, p. 65.</ref> Aig fìor dheireadh na còigheamh linn dheug, rinneadh oidhirpean air lagh na h-Alba a chòdachadh, a mhìneachadh agus ùrachadh ann an coimiseanan ach cha do shoirbhich leotha.<ref name="ReidandZimmerman2000Ip66">K. Reid and R. Zimmerman, ''A History of Private Law in Scotland: I. Introduction and Property'' (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2000), ISBN 0-19-829941-9, p. 66.</ref> Mar a tha clàran eachdraidheil nan cùisean lagha on linn seo ag innse, 's e an gnàthas a bha aca aig an àm sin gèilleadh ri laghan Albannach sònraichte ma bha gin ann agus mur an robh dad ann, na beàrnan a lìonadh leis an lagh choitcheann a bha, gu fortanach, air a sgrìobhadh sìos.<ref name="ReidandZimmerman2000Ip73">K. Reid and R. Zimmerman, ''A History of Private Law in Scotland: I. Introduction and Property'' (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2000), ISBN 0-19-829941-9, p. 73.</ref>

Fo rìgh Seumas IV, chaidh rian nas fheàrr a chur air dreuchdan laghail na comhairle, le [[Cùirt an t-Seisein]] rìoghail a' coinneachadh gach latha ann an Dùn Èideann a dhèilig ri cùisean sìobhalta. Chaidh dreuchd a' bhritheimh choitchinn a chruthachadh do [[Diùc Earra-Ghàidheal|Dhiùc Earra-Ghàidheal]] agus chùm a theaghlach an dreuchd sin gu ruige 1628.<ref>K. Reid and R. Zimmerman, ''A History of Private Law in Scotland: I. Introduction and Property'' (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2000), ISBN 0-19-829941-9, p. 68.</ref> Chaidh [[Colaiste Rìoghail a' Cheartais]] a chur air bhonn ann am 1532 agus leis an trèanadh a thug sin seachad, thàinig buidheann de luchd-lagha profeiseantach gu bith. Thar ùine, dh'fhàs Cùirt an t-Seisein nas neo-eismeiliche o bhuaidh dhaoine is bhuidhnean, a' gabhail a-staigh an rìgh, agus fhuair e làmh an uachdair air rianan ceartais ionadail agus chuir na britheamhan air Cùirt an t-Seisein smachd air na daoine a leigeadh a-steach ann.<ref name="Wormald1991pp24-55">J. Wormald, ''Court, Kirk, and Community: Scotland, 1470-1625'' (Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press, 1991), ISBN 0748602763, pp. 24-5.</ref> Chaidh [[Àrd-chùirt a' Cheartais]] a chur air bhonn ann am 1672 le Colaiste a' Cheartais mar àrd-chùirt tagraidh.<ref>Anne-Marie Kilday, ''Women and Violent Crime in Enlightenment Scotland'' (Boydell & Brewer, 2007), ISBN 0861932870, p. 29.</ref>

==Airgead==
[[Image:Scotland penny 802002.jpg|right|thumb|Sgillinn [[Daibhidh II, Rìgh Alba|Dhaibhidh II]] (1329–71)]]
B' e Daibhidh I a' chiad rìgh Albannach a chuir a-mach a bhuinn fhìn agus gu luath, bha [[Taigh-cùinnidh|taighean-cùinnidh]] ann an Dùn Èideann, [[Bearuig]] agus [[Rosbrog]].<ref name=Cannon1997p225/> Bha na buinn a chaidh a bhualadh ann an Alba an toiseach coltas ris an fheadhainn Shasannach ach a' sealltainn lethcheann an rìgh seach aodann.<ref name=Chown1996p24/> Cha deach cus bhonn a bhualadh agus tha coltas gun robh buinn Shasannach cumanta is cudromach san linn seo ann an Alba.<ref name=Cannon1997p225>J. Cannon, ''The Oxford Companion to British History'' (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1997), p. 225.</ref> 'S e an [[nòbal]] a' chian bhonn òir (6s. 8d.) a chaidh a bhualadh le Daibhidh II.<ref name=Donaldson1999p99/> Thug Seumas I a-steach sgillinnean is leth-sgillinnean de [[bileon|bhileon]] (sin co-mheatailt de dh'airgead agus meatailt neo-uasal) agus nochd [[feòirling]]ean fo Sheumas III.<ref name=Donaldson1999p99>G. Donaldson and R. S. Morpeth, ''A Dictionary of Scottish History'' (Edinburgh, 1999), p. 43.</ref> Chaidh an [[crotach (bonn)|crotach]] (1½ d) agus leth-chrotach a bhualadh fo Sheumas V agus chaidh bonn dà sgillinn, an ceann cruaidh, a bhualadh fo Mhàiri Bànrigh na h-Alba airson comas a thoirt "don t-sluagh chumanta aran, deoch, feòil is iasg a cheannach". Thàinig crìoch air na buinn de bhuileon ann an 1603 ach mhair na buinn dà sgillinn de chopar gu ruige Achd an Aonaidh ann an 1707.<ref name="Cannon1997p225"/>

[[Image:Mary bawbee 1542 127326.jpg|thumb|left|[[Crotach (bonn)|Crotach]] o riaghaltas [[Màiri I, Bànrigh na h-Alba|Màiri Bànrigh na h-Alba]]]]
A thaobh cuibhreann an airgid, bha na buinn a chleachdadh ann an Alba tràth cha mhòr co-ionnann ris an fheadhainn a bhathar a' cleachdadh ann an Sasainn ach a-mach o 1300, chaidh cuibhreann an airgid sìos nas luaithe na ann an Sasainn. Eadar 1300 agus 1603, chaill iad mu 12 sa cheud gach deich bliadhna, trì uiread na chailleadh ann an Sasainn. Cha robh san sgillinn Albannach ach meatailt neo-uasal a-mach on bhliadhna 1484 agus cha robh sgeul air mar bhonn fa leth a-mach o 1513 mu thuaiream.<ref name=Chown1996p24>J. Chown, ''A History of Money: From AD 800'' (London: Routledge, 1996), p. 24.</ref> Thoirmisg riaghaltas Shasainn ruith nam bonn Albannach ann an 1423. Chaidh luach a' [[Punnd Albannach|Phuinnd Albannaich]] a shocrachadh aig dà dheugamh dhen phunnd Sasannach aig am aonadh an dà chrùn ann an 1603.<ref name=Cannon1997p225/> Ghabh Pàrlamaid na h-Alba ri achd ann an 1695 a stèidhich [[Banca na h-Alba]].<ref name="Mitchison2002pp291&301-2">R. Mitchison, ''A History of Scotland'' (London: Routledge, 3rd edn., 2002), ISBN 0415278805, pp. 291-2 and 301-2.</ref> Chuir am banca a-mach notaichean a-mach o 1704 de luach £12 Albannach ach chuireadh às dhan airgead Albannach ann an Achd an Aonaidh agus chaidh na buinn Albannach a thogail à ruith agus ath-bhualadh mar bhuinn Shasannach.<ref>M. Rowlinson, "'The Scots hate gold': British identity and paper money", in E. Gilbert and E. Helleiner, ''Nation-States and Money: The Past, Present and Future of National Currencies'' (Routledge, 1999), ISBN 0203450930, p. 51.</ref>{{clear}}

==Cruinn-eòlas==
[[File:Scotland (Location) Named (HR).png|upright|thumb|Cumadh-tìre na h-Alba.]]
A-rèir crìochan na h-Alba ann an 1707, bha Rìoghachd na h-Alba mu leth-mheud Shasainn is na Cuimrigh còmhla a thaobh meud na talmhainn ach leis a' phailteas de dh'eileanan, [[loch-mara|lochan-mara]] is geodhan, tha cladach na h-Alba mu thuaiream dhen aon fhaid, mu 4,000 mìle.<ref name="C. Harvie, 2002 pp. 10-11"/> Tha barrachd air 790 eilean-mara ann an Alba, a' mhòrchuid dhiubh ann an ceithir buidhnean mòra: [[Sealtainn|Eileanan Shealtainn]], [[Arcaibh|Eileanan Arcaibh]], [[Na h-Eileanan Siar|na h-Eileanan Siar]] agus [[Na h-Eileanan A-staigh|na h-Eileanan A-staigh]].<ref name="Smith">H. Haswell-Smith, ''The Scottish Islands'' (Edinburgh: Canongate, 2004), ISBN 978-1-84195-454-7.</ref> Chan eil ach a' chòigeamh phàirt de dh'Alba nas ìsle na 60m os cionn ìre na mara.<ref name="C. Harvie, 2002 pp. 10-11">C. Harvie, ''Scotland: a Short History'' (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2002), ISBN 0192100548, pp. 10-11.</ref> 'S e an sgaradh mòr ann an Alba a' chrìoch eadar an talamh àrd 's na h-eileanan, [[a' Ghàidhealtachd]] agus na h-Eileanan, ann an taobh an iar is a tuath na dùthcha agus an talamh ìseal ann an taobh an ear agus a tuath na dùthcha, [[a' Ghalldachd]]. Tha [[an Gleann Mòr]] an uairsin a' sgaradh na Gàidhealtachd ann an dà leth, [[Iar-thuath na Gàidhealtachd]] agus [[Roinn nam Monadh Liath]]. A thaobh na Galldachd, tha talamh torrachd [[Meadhan na Galldachd]] air a sgaradh o thalamh àrd [[Am Monadh a Deas|a' Mhonaidh a Deas]] a tha a' gabhail a-staigh [[Monadh Cheviot]] far an robh a' chrìoch eadar Alba agus Sasainn roimhe.<ref name="autogenerated2002">R. Mitchison, ''A History of Scotland'' (London: Routledge, 3rd edn., 2002), ISBN 0415278805, p. 2.</ref> Tha bann Meadhan na Galldachd mu 50 mìle a leud sa chuibheas<ref>''World and Its Peoples'' (London: Marshall Cavendish), ISBN 0761478833, p. 13.</ref> agus, a chionn 's gur ann an-seo a tha a' chuid as motha de dh'fhearann torrach na dùthcha agus deagh cheanglaichean còmhdhalach, 's ann an-seo far an deach Alba a bhailteachadh agus far an deach na riaghaltasan a stèidheachadh.<ref name="Wormald1991pp39-40">J. Wormald, ''Court, Kirk, and Community: Scotland, 1470-1625'' (Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press, 1991), ISBN 0748602763, pp. 39-40.</ref> Cha robh agus chan eil fearann a' Mhonaidh a Deas agus na Gàidhealtachd buileach cho torrach agus aig amannan, cha robh smachd ro mhòr aig an riaghaltas sna ceàrnaidhean seo.<ref>A. G. Ogilvie, ''Great Britain: Essays in Regional Geography'' (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1952), p. 421.</ref>

Leis gu bheil Alba air taobh an ear a' [[An Cuan Sèimh|Chuain Shèimh]], tha sin a' ciallachadh gum bi sileadh mòr ann. Tuitidh mu 700&nbsp;mm a dh'uisge gach bliadhna ann an taobh an ear na dùthcha agus barrachd air 1,000&nbsp;mm ann an taobh an iar na dùthcha. Ri linn seo, dh'fhàs na brat-bhoglaichean ann an Alba agus leis cho geur 's a tha an t-uisge annta agus leis na th' ann de ghaoth mhòr is cathadh an t-sàil, cha robh cus chraobhan a' fàs sna h-eileanan uair sam bith. Eadar na cnuic, beanntan, beò-ghainmheach is boglaichean, bha còmhdhail agus ceannsachadh furasta taobh a-staigh na dùthcha ach dh'fhaoidte gun robh iomadh tighearnas is rìoghachd ann fad ùine mhòr.<ref name="C. Harvie, 2002 pp. 10-11"/> Tha ùine fàis gu math goirid air a' Ghàidhealtachd is talamh àrd eile agus sa Mhonadh Liath, chan eil ach ceithir mìosan gun deigh ann no fiù nas lugha agus chan eil ach seachd mìosan air a' char as motha air a' Ghàidhealtachd is talamh àrd. Bha buaidh aig an [[linn-deighe bheag]] cuideachd tràth san linn ùr agus bha 33 latha de shìor-reòthadh ann an 1564. Reòth na h-aibhnichean is na lochan agus bha gainneadh bìdh ann gu ruige na 1960an.<ref>J. E. A. Dawson, ''Scotland Re-Formed, 1488-1587'' (Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press, 2007), ISBN 0748614559, pp. 8-11.</ref>

==Sluagh==
[[File:John Rocque Plan von Edinburgh 1764.jpg|left|thumb|left|Plana Dhùn Èideann ann an 1764, am baile as motha ann an Alba tràth san linn ùr]]
Eadar stèidheachadh Rìoghachd na h-Alba san deicheamh linn gu ruige toiseach [[a' phlàigh-dhubh|na plàighe-duibhe]] ann an 1349, tha coltas gun do dh'fhàs an sluagh o leth-mhillean gu millean, stèidhichte air rannsachadh meud an fhearainn.<ref>R. E. Tyson, "Population Patterns", in M. Lynch, ed., ''The Oxford Companion to Scottish History'' (New York, 2001), pp. 487–8.</ref> Ged nach eil cunntas oifigeach ann mu bhuaidh na plàighe-duibhe, tha iomadh cunntas neo-fhoirmeil a' toirt iomradh air fearann fàs sna deicheadan na dèidh. Ma bha car mun aon bhuaidh aig an tinneas ann an Alba 's a bh' aice ann an Sasainn, bhiodh an sluadh air tuiteam gu leth-mhillean aig deireadh na còigeamh linn deug.<ref name="Rigby2003p109-11">S. H. Rigby, ed., ''A Companion to Britain in the Later Middle Ages'' (Oxford: Wiley-Blackwell, 2003), ISBN 0631217851, pp. 109-11.</ref> Seach mar a ghluais an sluagh rè ùpraidean sluaigh eile, can [[Fuadach nan Gàidheal|fuadach nan Gàidheal]] agus san [[Tionndadh Gnìomhachais|tionndadh ghnìomhachais]], bhiodh an aon bhuaidh aice anns gach sgìre, cha mhòr, a' fàgail mun dàrna leth dhen t-sluagh tuath air [[Abhainn Tatha]].<ref>J. Wormald, ''Court, Kirk, and Community: Scotland, 1470-1625'' (Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press, 1991), ISBN 0748602763, p. 61.</ref> Bha mu thuaiream deich sa cheud dhen t-sluagh a' fuireadh sna buirgh a nochd aig deireadh nam meadhan-aoisean, gu sònraichte san ear is taobh a deas na dùthcha. Bhiodh mu 2,000 de shluagh annta sa mheadhan, ach bhiodh mòran nas lugha na 1,000 agus bha barrachd air 10,000 sa bhorgh as motha, Dùn Èideann, aig deireadh nam meadhan-aoisean ma dh'fhaoidte.<ref name="Gemmill&Mayhew1995pp8-10">E. Gemmill and N. J. Mayhew, ''Changing Values in Medieval Scotland: a Study of Prices, Money, and Weights and Measures'' (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1995), ISBN 0521473853, pp. 8-10.</ref>

Tha atadh nam prìsean - a dh'innseas gu bheil barrachd iarrtas ann airson biadh mar is trice - gun dàinig fàs air an àireamh-shluaigh sa chiad leth dhen t-siathamh linn deugh, agus gun dàinig rèidheadh air an dèidh goirt 1595 leis gun robh na prìsean gu math seasmhach tràth san t-seachdamh linn deug.<ref>R. Mitchison, ''A History of Scotland'' (London: Routledge, 3rd edn., 2002), ISBN 0415278805, p. 145.</ref> Stèidhichte air an dàta airson [[cìs an teallaich]] on bhliadhna 1691, bha sluagh dhe 1,234,575 ach dh'fhaoidte gun robh buaidh mhòr air an àireamh seo an cois nan goirtean aig deireadh nan 1690an.<ref>K. J. Cullen, ''Famine in Scotland: The 'Ill Years' of The 1690s'' (Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press, 2010), ISBN 0748638873, pp. 123-4.</ref> Mun bhliadhna 1750, bhiodh mu thuaireamh 57,000 duine a' fuireach ann an Dùn Èideann. Cha robh ann de bhailtean eile os cionn 10,000 duine ach Glaschu (mu 32,000), Obar Dheathain (mu 16,000) agus Dùn Dè (mu 12,000).<ref>F. M. L. Thompson, ''The Cambridge Social History of Britain 1750-1950: People and Their Environment'' (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1992), ISBN 0521438152, p. 5.</ref>

==Cànain==
[[Image:Languages of Scotland 1400 AD.svg|thumb|upright|right|Crìochan nan cànan mun bhliadhna 1400 stèidhichte air fianais ainmean-àite. Tha gorm a' comharradh Gàidhlig, buidhe a' Bheurla Ghallda agus orains [[Nòrnais]].]]

Tha na tùsan eachdraidheil agus fianais nan ainmean-àite ag innse mar a fhuair a' Ghàidhlig - agus an uairsin an [[Seann Bheurla|t-Seann Bheurla]] agus [[Lochlannais]] làmh an uachdair air cànan nan Cruithneach mu thuath agus air na cànain Chuimreach mu dheas agus mar a ghabh iad an àite an uair sin tràth sna meadhan-aoisean.<ref>W. O. Frazer and A. Tyrrell, ''Social Identity in Early Medieval Britain'' (London: Continuum,  2000), ISBN 0718500849, p. 238.</ref> Mu mheadhan nam meadhan-aoisean, b' i a' Ghàidhlig cànan na mòrcuid ann an Alba agus cha robh aig daoine air ach ''Albais'' no ann an Laideann, ''lingua Scotica''.<ref>G. W. S. Barrow, ''Kingship and Unity: Scotland 1000-1306'' (Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press, 1989), ISBN 074860104X, p. 14.</ref> Sna h-eileanan a tuath, thug an luchd-tuineachaidh Lochlannach leotha an cànan aca fhèin, an Lochlannais, agus b' e sin bun-stèidh a' chànain ionadail a dh'fhàs na àite, an Nòrnais. Mhair Nòrnais beò gu deireadh na h-ochdamh linn deug<ref>G. Lamb, "The Orkney Tongue" in D. Omand, ed., ''The Orkney Book'' (Edinburgh: Birlinn, 2003), p. 250.</ref> agus dh'fhaoidte gun do mhair fiù an Lochlannais fhèin beò sna h-Eileanan an Iar mar chànan labhartha gun t-siathamh linn deug.<ref>A. Jennings and A. Kruse, "One Coast-Three Peoples: Names and Ethnicity in the Scottish West during the Early Viking period", in A. Woolf, ed., ''Scandinavian Scotland – Twenty Years After'' (St Andrews: St Andrews University Press, 2007), ISBN 0951257374, p. 97.</ref> Thar ùine, ghabh an [[Fraingis|Fhraingis]], an [[Flanndrais|Fhlanndrais]] agus gu sònraichte a' Bheurla àite na Gàidhlig ann am buirgh na h-Alba, a' mhòrchuid dhiubh ann an taobh a deas agus an ear na dùthcha, na sgìrean far an dàinig an luchd-tuineachaidh Anglach a thug leotha nàdar dhen t-Seann-Bheurla. San dàrna leth dhen dàrna linn deug, thug an sgrìobhadair [[Adam of Dryburgh]] "`tìr na Beurla ann an Rìoghachd na h-Alba" air tìr ìseal Lodainn.<ref>K. J. Stringer, "Reform Monasticism and Celtic Scotland", in E. J. Cowan and R. A. McDonald, eds, ''Alba: Celtic Scotland in the Middle Ages'' (East Lothian: Tuckwell Press, 2000), ISBN 1862321515, p. 133.</ref> Co-dhiù mun àm a shuidh Daibhidh I air rìgh-chathair na h-Alba, cha b' a' Ghàidhlig cànan na cùirte rìoghail tuileadh agus tha coltas gum b' i an Fhraingis a ghabh a h-àite, stèidhichte air croinicean, litreachas is sgrìobhainnean oifigeach eile a chaidh eadar-theangachadh gu Fraingis mun àm sin.<ref>K. M. Brown, ''Noble Society in Scotland: Wealth, Family and Culture from the Reformation to the Revolutions'' (Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press, 2004), ISBN 0748612998, p. 220.</ref><ref name="Houston2002p76">R. A. Houston, ''Scottish Literacy and the Scottish Identity: Illiteracy and Society in Scotland and Northern England, 1600-1800'' (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2002), ISBN 0521890888, p. 76.</ref>

Aig deireadh meadhan nam meadhan-aoisean, b' e [[Meadhan-Albais]] - agus ris an canadh daoine dìreach ''Inglis'' mun àm ud, prìomh-chànan na rìoghachd. Tha an cànan a' tighinn a-nuas on t-Seann-Bheurla ach tha fuaigheall na Gàidhlig is na Fraingis an-siud is an-seo. Bha e gu math coltach ri cainnt nan daoine ann an taobh tuath Shasainn ach mean air mhean, thàinig sgaradh eadar an dà dhual-chainnt a-mach o dheireadh na ceathramh linn deug.<ref name="Wormald1991pp60-7">J. Wormald, ''Court, Kirk, and Community: Scotland, 1470-1625'' (Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press, 1991), ISBN 0748602763, pp. 60-7.</ref> Mar a chuir na h-urracha mòra cùl ris an Fhraingis mean air mhean, ghabh iad ris a' chànan seo na àite. Mun chòigeamh linn deug, b' i cànan an riaghaltais agus 's gann gun do nochd cànan eile ann an achdan na pàrlamaid, clàran nan comhairlean is cunntasan ionmhasairean a-mach o riaghladh Seumas I. Ri linn sin, thàinig sìor-chrìonadh air a' Ghàidhlig a bha fhathast làidir tuath air Uisge Tatha aig an àm.<ref name="Wormald1991pp60-7"/> Thòisich sgrìobhadairean air tàir a dhèanamh air a' Ghàidhlig mar chànan ìosal aig daoine gun sgoil is fiù mar chainnt èibhinn agus bha buaidh aige seo air na beachdan aig daoine air a' Ghàidhealtachd is an sgaradh cultarach a dh'fhàs eadar a' Ghàidhealtachd is a' Ghalltachd.<ref name="Wormald1991pp60-7"/>

O mheadhan na siathamh linn deug, thàinig buaidh na Beurla dheasach air dòighean-sgrìobhadh na h-Albaise an cois na bha a' tachairt sna cùirtean agus ann an saoghal poileataigs.<ref>J. Corbett, D. McClure and J. Stuart-Smith, "A Brief History of Scots" in J. Corbett, D. McClure and J. Stuart-Smith, eds, ''The Edinburgh Companion to Scots'' (Edinburgh, Edinburgh University Press, 2003), ISBN 0-7486-1596-2, p. 10ff.</ref> Ri linn fàs buaidh na Beurla Shasannach agus nan leabhraichean clò-bhuailte a bha a' tighinn à Sasainn, thòisich daoine air rudan a sgrìobhadh san dòigh Shasannach.<ref name="Scots' 2003 p. 11">J. Corbett, D. McClure and J. Stuart-Smith, "A Brief History of Scots" in J. Corbett, D. McClure and J. Stuart-Smith, eds, ''The Edinburgh Companion to Scots'' (Edinburgh, Edinburgh University Press, 2003), ISBN 0-7486-1596-2, p. 11.</ref> Cha robh uiread a ghràin is dìmeas air cultar nan Gàidheal aig rìghrean Albannach mar a bha aig Seumas VI.<ref>J. Wormald, ''Court, Kirk, and Community: Scotland, 1470-1625'' (Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press, 1991), ISBN 0748602763, p. 40.</ref> Mhol e bàgh na h-Albaise roimhe ach an dèidh dha rìgh-chathair Shasainn a ghabhail, bha e a' taobhadh ri cànan taobh a deas Shasainn. Ann an 1611, ghabh Eaglais na h-Alba ri eadar-theangachadh [[Bìoball Rìgh Seumas|ùghdarraichte a' Bhìobaill aig Rìgh Seumas]]. Chaidh fios a sgaoileadh ann an 1617 nach robh feum air eadar-theangadairean ann am port Lunnainn tuilleadh leis nach robh na h-Albannaich is na Sasannaich "not so far different bot ane understandeth ane uther". Tha Jenny Wormald a' mìneachadh gun do chruthaich Seumas rian cànain le trì ìrean - leis a' Ghàidhlig aig a' bhonn agus a' Bheurla air an ìre as àirde.<ref name="Wormald1991pp192-3">J. Wormald, ''Court, Kirk, and Community: Scotland, 1470-1625'' (Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press, 1991), ISBN 0748602763, pp. 192-3.</ref>

==Creideamh==
[[Image:Dundrennan Abbey 2012 (1).jpg|thumb|left|[[Abaid Dhùn Droighnean]], aon dhe na h-abaidean rìoghail a chaidh a chur air chois san dàrna linn deug.]]
Chaidh na rìoghachdan Cruithneach is Albannach air an deach rìoghachd na h-Alba a stèidheachadh iompachadh gu Crìosdaidheachd an cois miseanan Èireannach is Albannach, a' gabhail a-staigh [[Calum Cille]], eadar a' chòigeamh is an t-seachdamh linn. Mar is trice, stèidhich na miseanan seo [[manachainn|manachainnean]] is eaglaisean colaisteach a bha a' frithealadh sgìrean mòra.<ref>O. Clancy, "The Scottish provenance of the ‘Nennian’ recension of Historia Brittonum and the Lebor Bretnach " in: S. Taylor (ed.), ''Picts, Kings, Saints and Chronicles: A Festschrift for Marjorie O. Anderson'' (Dublin: Four Courts, 2000), pp. 95–6 and A. P. Smyth, ''Warlords and Holy Men: Scotland AD 80-1000'' (Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press, 1989), ISBN 0748601007, pp. 82–3.</ref> Ri linn sinn, dh'èirich rud ris an can sgoilearan [[Crìosdaidheachd Cheilteach]], eaglais anns an robh [[aba|abachan]] nas cudromaiche na h-[[easbaig|easbaigean]], gun riaghailtean [[seasganachd]] cho teann dhan chlèir agus rudan eile a bha gu math eadar-dhealaichte on Chrìosdaidheachd Ròmanach aig an àm, gu sònraichte a thaobh [[falt còirneach|falt còirneach nam manach]] is rìomhaireachd ceann-là na [[A' Chàisg|Càisge]]. Ach cha do mhair a' mhòr-chuid dhen eadar-dhealachadh seo nas fhaide na meadhan na seachdamh linn.<ref name="Evans1985">C. Evans, "The Celtic Church in Anglo-Saxon times", in J. D. Woods, D. A. E. Pelteret, ''The Anglo-Saxons, synthesis and achievement'' (Wilfrid Laurier University Press, 1985), ISBN 0889201668, pp. 77-89.</ref><ref>C. Corning, ''The Celtic and Roman Traditions: Conflict and Consensus in the Early Medieval Church'' (Macmillan, 2006), ISBN 1403972990.</ref> An dèidh ath-iompachadh sgìrean Lochlannach na h-Alba, b' e Crìosdaidheachd a' Phàpa am prìomh-chreideamh san rìoghachd a-mach on 10mh linn.<ref name="Macquarrie2004pp67-8">A. Macquarrie, ''Medieval Scotland: Kinship and Nation'' (Thrupp: Sutton, 2004), ISBN 0-7509-2977-4, pp. 67-8.</ref>

In the Norman period the Scottish church underwent a series of reforms and transformations. With royal and lay patronage, a clearer parochial structure based around local churches was developed.<ref name="Macquarrie2004pp109-117">A. Macquarrie, ''Medieval Scotland: Kinship and Nation'' (Thrupp: Sutton, 2004), ISBN 0-7509-2977-4, pp. 109-117.</ref> Large numbers of new foundations, which followed continental forms of reformed monasticism, began to predominate and the Scottish church established its independence from England, developed a clearer diocesan structure, becoming a "special daughter of the see of Rome", but lacking leadership in the form of Archbishops.<ref name="Bawcutt&Williams2006pp26-9">P. J. Bawcutt and J. H. Williams, ''A Companion to Medieval Scottish Poetry'' (Woodbridge: Brewer, 2006), ISBN 1843840960, pp. 26-9.</ref> In the late Middle Ages the problems of schism in the Catholic Church allowed the Scottish Crown to gain greater influence over senior appointments and two archbishoprics had been established by the end of the fifteenth century.<ref name="Wormald1991pp75-87">J. Wormald, ''Court, Kirk, and Community: Scotland, 1470–1625'' (Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press, 1991), ISBN 0748602763, pp. 76-87.</ref> While some historians have discerned a decline of monasticism in the late Middle Ages, the [[mendicant]] orders of [[friar]]s grew, particularly in the expanding [[burgh]]s, to meet the spiritual needs of the population. New saints and cults of devotion also proliferated. Despite problems over the number and quality of clergy after the [[Black Death]] in the fourteenth century, and some evidence of heresy in this period, the Church in Scotland remained relatively stable before the sixteenth century.<ref name="Wormald1991pp75-87"/>

[[File:Knox, John.jpeg|thumb|right|upright|[[John Knox]], one of the key figures in the Scottish Reformation.]]
During the sixteenth century, Scotland underwent a [[Protestant Reformation]] that created a predominately Calvinist national kirk, which was strongly Presbyterian in outlook, severely reducing the powers of bishops, although not abolishing them. The teachings of first [[Martin Luther]] and then [[John Calvin]] began to influence Scotland, particularly through Scottish scholars who had visited continental and English universities. Particularly important was the work of the Lutheran Scot [[Patrick Hamilton (martyr)|Patrick Hamilton]].<ref>J. Wormald, ''Court, Kirk, and Community: Scotland, 1470-1625'' (Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press, 1991), ISBN 0748602763, pp. 102-4.</ref> His execution with other Protestant preachers in 1528, and of the [[Zwingli]]-influenced [[George Wishart]] in 1546, who was burnt at the stake in [[St. Andrews]], did nothing to stem the growth of these ideas. Wishart's supporters seized St. Andrews Castle, which they held for a year before they were defeated with the help of French forces. The survivors, including chaplain [[John Knox]], were condemned to be galley slaves, helping to create resentment of the French and martyrs for the Protestant cause.<ref>M. F. Graham, "Scotland", in A. Pettegree, ''The Reformation World'' (London: Routledge, 2000), ISBN 0415163579, p. 414.</ref> Limited toleration and the influence of exiled Scots and Protestants in other countries, led to the expansion of Protestantism, with a group of lairds declaring themselves [[Lords of the Congregation]] in 1557. By 1560 a relatively small group of Protestants were in a position to impose reform on the Scottish church. A confession of faith, rejecting papal jurisdiction and the mass, was adopted by [[Scottish Reformation Parliament|Parliament in 1560]].<ref>J. Wormald, ''Court, Kirk, and Community: Scotland, 1470-1625'' (Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press, 1991), ISBN 0748602763, pp. 120-1.</ref> The Calvinism of the reformers led by Knox resulted in a settlement that adopted a [[Presbyterian]] system and rejected most of the elaborate trappings of the Medieval church. This gave considerable power within the new Kirk to local lairds, who often had control over the appointment of the clergy, and resulting in widespread, but generally orderly, [[iconoclasm]]. At this point the majority of the population was probably still Catholic in persuasion and the Kirk would find it difficult to penetrate the Highlands and Islands, but began a gradual process of conversion and consolidation that, compared with reformations elsewhere, was conducted with relatively little persecution.<ref>J. Wormald, ''Court, Kirk, and Community: Scotland, 1470-1625'' (Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press, 1991), ISBN 0748602763, pp. 121-33.</ref>

[[File:Riot against Anglican prayer book 1637.jpg|thumb|left|The riots set off by [[Jenny Geddes]] in [[St Giles Cathedral]] that sparked off the Bishops' Wars.]]
In 1635, Charles I authorised a book of canons that made him head of the Church, ordained an unpopular ritual and enforced the use of a new liturgy. When the liturgy emerged in 1637 it was seen as an English-style Prayer Book, resulting in anger and widespread rioting.<ref name="Mackieetal1991p203">J. D. Mackie, B. Lenman and G. Parker, ''A History of Scotland'' (London: Penguin, 1991), ISBN 0140136495, p. 203.</ref> Representatives of various sections of Scottish society drew up the [[National Covenant]] on 28 February 1638, objecting to the King's liturgical innovations.<ref name="Mackieetal1991p204">J. D. Mackie, B. Lenman and G. Parker, ''A History of Scotland'' (London: Penguin, 1991), ISBN 0140136495, p. 204.</ref> The king's supporters were unable to suppress the rebellion and the king refused to compromise. In December of the same year matters were taken even further, when at a meeting of the General Assembly in Glasgow the Scottish bishops were formally expelled from the Church, which was then established on a full Presbyterian basis. Victory in the resulting Bishops' Wars secured the Presbyterian Kirk and precipitated the outbreak of the civil wars of the 1640s.<ref name="Mackieetal1991p205-6">J. D. Mackie, B. Lenman and G. Parker, ''A History of Scotland'' (London: Penguin, 1991), ISBN 0140136495, pp. 205-6.</ref> Disagreements over collaboration with Royalism created a major conflict between [[Protesters (Act of Classes)|Protesters]] and [[Resolutioners]], which became a long term divide in the Kirk.<ref>M. Lynch, ''Scotland: a New History'' (London: Random House, 1991), ISBN 1446475638, pp. 279-81.</ref>

At the Restoration of the monarchy in 1660, legislation was revoked back to 1633, removing the Covenanter gains of the Bishops' Wars, but the discipline of kirk sessions, presbyteries and synods were renewed.<ref name="autogenerated231">J. D. Mackie, B. Lenman and G. Parker, ''A History of Scotland'' (London: Penguin, 1991), ISBN 0140136495, pp. 231-4.</ref> The reintroduction of episcopacy was a source of particular trouble in the south-west of the country, an area with strong Presbyterian sympathies. Abandoning the official church, many of the people here began to attend illegal field assemblies led by excluded ministers, known as [[conventicle]]s.<ref>R. Mitchison, ''A History of Scotland'' (London: Routledge, 3rd edn., 2002), ISBN 0415278805, p. 253.</ref> In the early 1680s a more intense phase of persecution began, in what was later to be known in Protestant historiography as "[[the Killing Time]]".<ref name="Mackie1991p.241">J. D. Mackie, B. Lenman and G. Parker, ''A History of Scotland'' (London: Penguin, 1991), ISBN 0140136495, p. 241.</ref> After the Glorious Revolution, Presbyterianism was restored and the bishops, who had generally supported James VII, abolished,. However, William, who was more tolerant than the kirk tended to be, passed acts restoring the Episcopalian clergy excluded after the Revolution. The result was a Kirk divided between factions, with significant minorities, particularly in the west and north, of Episcopalians and Catholics.<ref>J. D. Mackie, B. Lenman and G. Parker, ''A History of Scotland'' (London: Penguin, 1991), ISBN 0140136495, pp. 252-3.</ref>

==Foghlam==
[[File:Tower of St. Salvator's College, St. Andrews Fife.jpg|thumb|right|upright|Tower of [[St Salvator's College, St Andrews]], one of the three universities founded in the fifteenth century]]
The establishment of Christianity brought Latin to Scotland as a scholarly and written language. Monasteries served as repositories of knowledge and education, often running schools and providing a small educated elite, who were essential to create and read documents in a largely illiterate society.<ref name="Macquarrie2004p128">A. Macquarrie, ''Medieval Scotland: Kinship and Nation'' (Thrupp: Sutton, 2004), ISBN 0-7509-2977-4, p. 128.</ref> In the High Middle Ages new sources of education arose, with [[choir school|song]] and [[grammar school]]s. These were usually attached to cathedrals or a [[collegiate church]] and were most common in the developing burghs. By the end of the Middle Ages grammar schools could be found in all the main burghs and some small towns.<ref name=Bawcutt&Williams2006pp29-30/> There were also petty schools, more common in rural areas and providing an elementary education.<ref name="Lynchpp104-7">M. Lynch, ''Scotland: A New History'' (Random House, 2011), ISBN 1-4464-7563-8, pp. 104-7.</ref> Some monasteries, like the Cistercian [[Kinloss Abbey|abbey at Kinloss]], opened their doors to a wider range of students.<ref name=Lynchpp104-7/> The number and size of these schools seems to have expanded rapidly from the 1380s. They were almost exclusively aimed at boys, but by the end of the fifteenth century, Edinburgh also had schools for girls, sometimes described as "sewing schools", and probably taught by lay women or nuns.<ref name=Bawcutt&Williams2006pp29-30/><ref name=Lynchpp104-7/> There was also the development of private tuition in the families of lords and wealthy burghers.<ref name=Bawcutt&Williams2006pp29-30/> The growing emphasis on education cumulated with the passing of the [[Education Act 1496]], which decreed that all sons of barons and freeholders of substance should attend grammar schools to learn "perfyct Latyne". All this resulted in an increase in literacy, but which was largely concentrated among a male and wealthy elite,<ref name="Bawcutt&Williams2006pp29-30">P. J. Bawcutt and J. H. Williams, ''A Companion to Medieval Scottish Poetry'' (Woodbridge: Brewer, 2006), ISBN 1-84384-096-0, pp. 29-30.</ref> with perhaps 60 per cent of the nobility being literate by the end of the period.<ref name="Wormald1991pp68-72">J. Wormald, ''Court, Kirk, and Community: Scotland, 1470-1625'' (Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press, 1991), ISBN 0-7486-0276-3, pp. 68-72.</ref>

Until the fifteenth century, those who wished to attend university had to travel to England or the continent, and just over a 1,000 have been identified as doing so between the twelfth century and 1410.<ref name=Websterpp124-5/> Among these the most important intellectual figure was [[John Duns Scotus]], who studied at [[University of Oxford|Oxford]], [[University of Cambridge|Cambridge]] and [[University of Paris|Paris]] and probably died at [[University of Cologne|Cologne]] in 1308, becoming a major influence on late medieval religious thought.<ref name="Websterpp119">B. Webster, ''Medieval Scotland: the Making of an Identity'' (St. Martin's Press, 1997), ISBN 0-333-56761-7, pp. 119.</ref> The Wars of Independence largely closed English universities to Scots, and consequently continental universities became more significant.<ref name="Websterpp124-5">B. Webster, ''Medieval Scotland: the Making of an Identity'' (St. Martin's Press, 1997), ISBN 0-333-56761-7, pp. 124-5.</ref> This situation was transformed by the founding of the [[University of St Andrews]] in 1413, the [[University of Glasgow]] in 1450 and the [[University of Aberdeen]] in 1495.<ref name=Bawcutt&Williams2006pp29-30/> Initially these institutions were designed for the training of clerics, but they were increasingly used by laymen who would begin to challenge the clerical monopoly of administrative posts in the government and law. Those wanting to study for second degrees still needed to go abroad.<ref name=Websterpp124-5/> The continued movement to other universities produced a school of Scottish [[nominalists]] at Paris in the early sixteenth century, of which [[John Mair]] was probably the most important figure. By 1497 the humanist and historian [[Hector Boece]], born in Dundee, returned from Paris to became the first principal at the new university of Aberdeen.<ref name=Websterpp124-5/> These international contacts helped integrate Scotland into a wider European scholarly world and would be one of the most important ways in which the new ideas of [[humanism]] were brought into Scottish intellectual life.<ref name=Wormald1991pp68-72/>

[[File:John Mair.jpg|left|thumb|A woodcut showing [[John Mair]], one of the most successful products of the Scottish educational system in the late fifteenth century]]
The humanist concern with widening education was shared by the Protestant reformers, with a desire for a godly people replacing the aim of having educated citizens. In 1560, the ''[[First Book of Discipline]]'' set out a plan for a school in every parish, but this proved financially impossible.<ref>R. A. Houston, ''Scottish Literacy and the Scottish Identity: Illiteracy and Society in Scotland and Northern England, 1600-1800'' (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2002), ISBN 0-521-89088-8, p. 5.</ref> In the burghs the old schools were maintained, with the song schools and a number of new foundations becoming reformed grammar schools or ordinary parish schools. Schools were supported by a combination of kirk funds, contributions from local [[heritor]]s or burgh councils and parents that could pay. They were inspected by kirk sessions, who checked for the quality of teaching and doctrinal purity. There were also large number of unregulated {{anchor|adventure schools}} "adventure schools", which sometimes fulfilled a local needs and sometimes took pupils away from the official schools. Outside of the established burgh schools, masters often combined their position with other employment, particularly minor posts within the kirk, such as clerk.<ref>M. Todd, ''The Culture of Protestantism in Early Modern Scotland'' (Yale University Press, 2002), ISBN 0-300-09234-2, pp. 59-62.</ref> At their best, the curriculum included [[catechism]], [[Latin language|Latin]], [[French language|French]], [[Classical literature]] and sports.<ref name="Wormald1991pp182-3">J. Wormald, ''Court, Kirk, and Community: Scotland, 1470-1625'' (Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press, 1991), ISBN 0-7486-0276-3, pp. 183-3.</ref>

In 1616 an [[School Establishment Act 1616|act in Privy council]] commanded every parish to establish a school "where convenient means may be had", and when the [[Parliament of Scotland]] ratified this  with the [[Education Act 1633|Education Act of 1633]], a tax on local landowners was introduced to provide the necessary endowment. A loophole which allowed evasion of this tax was closed in the [[Education Act 1646|Education Act of 1646]], which established a solid institutional foundation for schools on [[Covenanter]] principles. Although the [[English Restoration|Restoration]] brought a reversion to the 1633 position, in 1696 new legislation restored the provisions of 1646. An act of the Scottish parliament in 1696 underlined the aim of having a school in every parish. In rural communities these obliged local landowners (heritors) to provide a schoolhouse and pay a schoolmaster, while ministers and local [[Presbyterian polity|presbyteries]] oversaw the quality of the education. In many Scottish towns, burgh schools were operated by local councils.<ref>{{Citation |last = |title = School education prior to 1873 | journal = Scottish Archive Network |year = 2010 |url = http://www.scan.org.uk/knowledgebase/topics/education_box1.htm | archiveurl =http://www.webcitation.org/5zt4xQMkX| archivedate =3 July 2011}}.</ref> By the late seventeenth century there was a largely complete network of parish schools in the Lowlands, but in the Highlands basic education was still lacking in many areas.<ref name="Anderson2003">R. Anderson, "The history of Scottish Education pre-1980", in T. G. K. Bryce and W. M. Humes, eds, ''Scottish Education: Post-Devolution'' (Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press, 2nd edn., 2003), ISBN 0-7486-1625-X, pp. 219-28.</ref>

[[File:Andrew melville.jpg|thumb|upright|right|[[Andrew Melville]], credited with major reforms in Scottish Universities in the sixteenth century.]]
The widespread belief in the limited intellectual and moral capacity of women, vied with a desire, intensified after the Reformation, for women to take personal moral responsibility, particularly as wives and mothers. In Protestantism this necessitated an ability to learn and understand the [[catechism]] and even to be able to independently read the Bible, but most commentators, even those that tended to encourage the education of girls, thought they should not receive the same academic education as boys. In the lower ranks of society, they benefited from the expansion of the parish schools system that took place after the Reformation, but were usually outnumbered by boys, often taught separately, for a shorter time and to a lower level. They were frequently taught reading, sewing and knitting, but not writing. Female illiteracy rates based on signatures among female servants were around 90 percent, from the late seventeenth to the early eighteenth centuries and perhaps 85 percent for women of all ranks by 1750, compared with 35 per cent for men.<ref>R. A. Houston, ''Scottish Literacy and the Scottish Identity: Illiteracy and Society in Scotland and Northern England, 1600-1800'' (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2002), ISBN 0521890888, pp. 63-8.</ref>  Among the nobility there were many educated and cultured women, of which [[Mary, Queen of Scots]] is the most obvious example.<ref>K. Brown, ''Noble Society in Scotland: Wealth, Family and Culture from Reformation to Revolution'' (Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press, 2004), ISBN 0748612998, p. 187.</ref>

After the Reformation, Scotland's universities underwent a series of reforms associated with [[Andrew Melville]], who returned from Geneva to become principal of the University of Glasgow in 1574. He placed an emphasis on simplified logic and elevated languages and sciences to the same status as philosophy, allowing accepted ideas in all areas to be challenged.<ref name=Wormald1991pp183-4/> He introduced new specialist teaching staff, replacing the system of "regenting", where one tutor took the students through the entire arts curriculum.<ref>J. Kirk, "'Melvillian reform' and the Scottish universities", in A. A. MacDonald and M. Lynch, eds, ''The Renaissance in Scotland: Studies in Literature, Religion, History, and Culture Offered to John Durkhan'' (BRILL, 1994), ISBN 90-04-10097-0, p. 280.</ref> [[Metaphysics]] were abandoned and [[Ancient Greek|Greek]] became compulsory in the first year followed by [[Aramaic]], [[Syriac]] and [[Hebrew]], launching a new fashion for ancient and biblical languages. Glasgow had probably been declining as a university before his arrival, but students now began to arrive in large numbers. He assisted in the reconstruction of [[Marischal College]], [[University of Aberdeen|Aberdeen]], and in order to do for St Andrews what he had done for Glasgow, he was appointed Principal of [[St Mary's College, St Andrews]], in 1580. The [[University of Edinburgh]] developed out of public lectures were established in the town 1440s on law, Greek, Latin and philosophy, under the patronage of [[Mary of Guise]]. These evolved into the "Tounis College", which would become the [[University of Edinburgh]] in 1582.<ref name="Thomas2012pp196-7">A. Thomas, ''The Renaissance'', in T. M. Devine and J. Wormald, ''The Oxford Handbook of Modern Scottish History'' (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2012), ISBN 0-19-162433-0, pp. 196-7.</ref> The results were a revitalisation of all Scottish universities, which were now producing a quality of education the equal of that offered anywhere in Europe.<ref name="Wormald1991pp183-4">J. Wormald, ''Court, Kirk, and Community: Scotland, 1470-1625'' (Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press, 1991), ISBN 0-7486-0276-3, pp. 183-4.</ref> Under the Commonwealth, the universities saw an improvement in their funding, as they were given income from deaneries, defunct bishoprics and the excise, allowing the completion of buildings including the college in the [[University of Glasgow#High Street|High Street]] in Glasgow. They were still largely seen as a training school for clergy, and came under the control of the hard line [[Protesters (Act of Classes)|Protestors]].<ref name="Mackieetal1991pp225and227-8">J. D. Mackie, B. Lenman and G. Parker, ''A History of Scotland'' (London: Penguin, 1991), ISBN 0140136495, pp. 227-8.</ref> After the Restoration there was a purge of the universities, but much of the intellectual advances of the preceding period was preserved.<ref name="Lynchp262">M. Lynch, ''Scotland: A New History'' (Random House, 2011), ISBN 1-4464-7563-8, p. 262.</ref> The universities recovered from the upheavals of the mid-century with a lecture-based curriculum that was able to embrace economics and science, offering a high quality liberal education to the sons of the nobility and gentry.<ref name=Anderson2003/>

==An t-arm==
===An cabhlach===
[[File:A tomb in MacDufie's Chapel, Oronsay, 1772 (cropped).png|left|thumb|A carving of a birlinn from a sixteenth-century tombstone in MacDufie's Chapel, Oronsay, as engraved in 1772]]
There are mentions in Medieval records of fleets commanded by Scottish kings including [[William the Lion]]<ref name=Tytler1829pp309-10>P. F. Tytler, ''History of Scotland, Volume 2'' (London: Black, 1829), pp. 309-10.</ref> and [[Alexander II of Scotland|Alexander II]]. The latter took personal command of a large naval force which sailed from the Firth of Clyde and anchored off the island of Kerrera in 1249, intended to transport his army in a campaign against the [[Kingdom of the Isles]], but he died before the campaign could begin.<ref>J. Hunter, ''Last of the Free: A History of the Highlands and Islands of Scotland'' (London: Random House, 2011), ISBN 1-78057-006-6, pp. 106–111.</ref><ref name="Macquarrie2004p147">A. Macquarrie, ''Medieval Scotland: Kinship and Nation'' (Thrupp: Sutton, 2004), ISBN 0-7509-2977-4, p. 147.</ref> Records indicate that Alexander had several large oared ships built at [[Ayr]], but he avoided a sea battle.<ref name=Tytler1829pp309-10/> Defeat on land at the [[Battle of Largs]] and winter storms forced the Norwegian fleet to return home, leaving the Scottish crown as the major power in the region and leading to the ceding of the Western Isles to Alexander in 1266.<ref name="Macquarrie2004p153" />

Part of the reason for Robert I's success in the [[Wars of Scottish Independence|Wars of Independence]] was his ability to call on naval forces from the Islands. As a result of the expulsion of the Flemings from England in 1303, he gained the support of a major naval power in the North Sea.<ref name=Rodger1997pp74-90>N. A. M. Rodger, ''The Safeguard of the Sea: A Naval History of Britain. Volume One 660-1649'' (London: Harper, 1997) pp. 74-90.</ref> The development of naval power allowed Robert to successfully defeat English attempts to capture him in the Highlands and Islands and to blockade major English controlled fortresses at Perth and Stirling, the last forcing [[Edward II of England|Edward II]] to attempt the relief that resulted in English defeat at [[Battle of Bannockburn|Bannockburn]] in 1314.<ref name=Rodger1997pp74-90/> Scottish naval forces allowed invasions of the Isle of Man in 1313 and 1317 and Ireland in 1315. They were also crucial in the blockade of Berwick, which led to its fall in 1318.<ref name=Rodger1997pp74-90/> After the establishment of Scottish independence, Robert I turned his attention to building up a Scottish naval capacity. This was largely focused on the west coast, with the Exchequer Rolls of 1326 recording the feudal duties of his vassals in that region to aid him with their vessels and crews. Towards the end of his reign he supervised the building of at least one royal [[man-of-war]] near his palace at [[Cardross, Argyll and Bute|Cardross]] on the [[River Clyde]]. In the late fourteenth century naval warfare with England was conducted largely by hired Scots, Flemish and French merchantmen and privateers.<ref name=Grant>J. Grant, "The Old Scots Navy from 1689 to 1710", ''Publications of the Navy Records Society'', 44 (London: Navy Records Society, 1913-4), pp. i-xii.</ref> [[James I of Scotland|James I]] took a greater interest in naval power. After his return to Scotland in 1424, he established a shipbuilding yard at [[Leith]], a house for marine stores, and a workshop. King's ships were built and equipped there to be used for trade as well as war, one of which accompanied him on his expedition to the Islands in 1429. The office of [[Lord High Admiral of Scotland|Lord High Admiral]] was probably founded in this period. In his struggles with his nobles in 1488 James III received assistance from his two warships the ''Flower'' and the ''King's Carvel'' also known as the ''Yellow Carvel''.<ref name=Grant/>

[[File:Great Michael.jpg|thumb|right|A model of the ''[[Michael (ship)|Great Michael]]'' in the [[Royal Museum]]]]
There were various attempts to create royal naval forces in the fifteenth century. James IV put the enterprise on a new footing, founding a harbour at [[Newhaven, Edinburgh|Newhaven]] and a dockyard at the Pools of [[Airth]].<ref>N. Macdougall, ''James IV'' (Tuckwell, 1997), p. 235.</ref> He acquired a total of 38 ships including the ''[[Michael (ship)|Great Michael]]'',<ref name="Smout1992p45">T. Christopher Smout, ''Scotland and the Sea'' (Edinburgh: Rowman and Littlefield, 1992), ISBN 0-85976-338-2, p. 45.</ref> at that time, the largest ship in Europe.<ref name=Smout1992p45/><ref name="Murdoch-p33-34">S. Murdoch, ''The Terror of the Seas?: Scottish Maritime Warfare, 1513-1713'' (Leiden: Brill, 2010), ISBN 90-04-18568-2, pp. 33-4.</ref> Scottish ships had some success against privateers, accompanied the king on his expeditions in the islands and intervened in conflicts in Scandinavia and the Baltic,<ref name="Grant" /> but were sold after the Flodden campaign and after 1516 Scottish naval efforts would rely on privateering captains and hired merchantmen.<ref name="Grant" /> James V did not share his father's interest in developing a navy and shipbuilding fell behind that of the Low Countries.<ref>J. E. A. Dawson, ''Scotland Re-Formed, 1488-1587'' (Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press, 2007), ISBN 0748614559, pp. 181-2.</ref> Despite truces between England and Scotland there were periodic outbreaks of a ''[[guerre de course]]''.<ref>S. Murdoch, ''The Terror of the Seas?: Scottish Maritime Warfare 1513-1713'' (Leiden: Brill, 2010), ISBN 9004185682, p. 39.</ref> James V built a new harbour at [[Burntisland]] in 1542.<ref>T. Andrea, ''The Princelie Majestie: The Court of James V of Scotland 1528-1542'' (Birlinn, 2005), p. 164.</ref> The chief use of naval power in his reign was a series of expeditions to the Isles and France.<ref name="Dawson-p76">J. E. A. Dawson, ''Scotland Re-Formed, 1488-1587'' (Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press, 2007), ISBN 0-7486-1455-9, p. 76.</ref> After the [[Union of Crowns]] in 1603 conflict between Scotland and England ended, but Scotland found itself involved in England's foreign policy, opening up Scottish shipping to attack. In 1626 a squadron of three ships was bought and equipped.<ref name="Murdoch-p33-34" /> There were also several [[letter of marque|marque fleets]] of privateers.<ref>S. Murdoch, ''The Terror of the Seas?: Scottish Maritime Warfare, 1513-1713'' (Leiden: Brill, 2010), ISBN 90-04-18568-2, p. 169.</ref> In 1627, the Royal Scots Navy and accompanying contingents of burgh privateers participated in the [[Siege of Saint-Martin-de-Ré (1627)|major expedition to Biscay]].<ref>R. B. Manning, ''An Apprenticeship in Arms: The Origins of the British Army 1585-1702'' (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2006), ISBN 0199261490, p. 118.</ref> The Scots also returned to the West Indies<ref name="Murdoch2010p172">S. Murdoch, ''The Terror of the Seas?: Scottish Maritime Warfare, 1513-1713'' (Leiden: Brill, 2010), ISBN 90-04-18568-2, p. 172.</ref> and in 1629 took part in the capture of [[Quebec]].<ref>S. Murdoch, ''The Terror of the Seas?: Scottish Maritime Warfare, 1513-1713'' (Leiden: Brill, 2010), ISBN 90-04-18568-2, p. 174.</ref>

During the Bishop's Wars the king attempted to blockade Scotland and planned amphibious assaults from England on the East coast and from Ireland to the West.<ref name=Wheeler2002pp19-21/> Scottish privateers took a number of English prizes.<ref>S. Murdoch, ''The Terror of the Seas?: Scottish Maritime Warfare, 1513-1713'' (Leiden: Brill, 2010), ISBN 90-04-18568-2, p. 198.</ref> After the Covenanters allied with the English Parliament they established two patrol squadrons for the Atlantic and North Sea coasts, known collectively as the "Scotch Guard".<ref>S. Murdoch, ''The Terror of the Seas?: Scottish Maritime Warfare, 1513-1713'' (Leiden: Brill, 2010), ISBN 90-04-18568-2, pp. 204-10.</ref> The Scottish navy was unable to withstand the English fleet that accompanied the army led by Cromwell that conquered Scotland in 1649-51 and the Scottish ships and crews were split up among the Commonwealth fleet.<ref name="Murdoch2010p239">S. Murdoch, ''The Terror of the Seas?: Scottish Maritime Warfare 1513-1713'' (Leiden: Brill, 2010), ISBN 9004185682, p. 239.</ref> Scottish seamen received protection against arbitrary impressment by English men of war, but a fixed quota of conscripts for the Royal Navy was levied from the sea-coast [[burgh]]s during the second half of the seventeenth century.<ref>D. Brunsman, [http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=ypImFPnX_1UC&pg=PT77&dq=press+gang+scotland+royal+navy&hl=en&sa=X&ei=zBPCUZLBO7Kb0wXbuoGABA&redir_esc=y ''The Evil Necessity: British Naval Impressment in the Eighteenth-Century Atlantic World''] (University of Virginia Press, 2013), ISBN 0813933528.</ref> Royal Navy patrols were now found in Scottish waters even in peacetime.<ref>A. Campbell, ''A History Of Clan Campbell: From The Restoration To The Present Day'' (Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press, 2004), ISBN 0748617906, p. 44.</ref> In the [[Second Anglo-Dutch War|Second]] (1665–67) and [[Third Anglo-Dutch War]]s (1672–74) between 80 and 120 captains, took Scottish letters of marque and privateers played a major part in the naval conflict.<ref name="Murdoch2010pp239-41">S. Murdoch, ''The Terror of the Seas?: Scottish Maritime Warfare 1513-1713'' (Leiden: Brill, 2010), ISBN 9004185682, pp. 239-41.</ref> In the 1690s a small fleet of five ships was established by merchants for the [[Darien Scheme]],<ref>A. I. MacInnes and A. H. Williamson, eds., ''Shaping the Stuart World, 1603-1714: The Atlantic Connection'' (Brill, 2006), ISBN 900414711X, p. 349.</ref> and a professional navy was established for the protection of commerce in home waters during the Nine Years War, with three purpose-built warships bought from English shipbuilders in 1696. After the [[Acts of Union 1707|Act of Union]] in 1707, these vessels were transferred to the [[Royal Navy]].<ref name=Grantp48>J. Grant, "The Old Scots Navy from 1689 to 1710", ''Publications of the Navy Records Society'', 44 (London: Navy Records Society, 1913-4), p. 48.</ref>

===An t-arm===
[[File:Scottish soldiers in the 14thC.jpg|thumb|left|Scottish soldiers in the period of the Hundred Years' War, detail from an edition of Froissart's Chronicles]]
Before the [[Scotland in the Wars of the Three Kingdoms|Wars of the Three Kingdoms]] in the mid-seventeenth century, there was no [[standing army]] in the Kingdom of Scotland. In the [[Scotland in the Early Middle Ages|Early Middle Ages]] war in Scotland was characterised by the use of small war-bands of household troops often engaging in raids and low level warfare.<ref>L. Alcock, ''Kings and Warriors, Craftsmen and Priests in Northern Britain AD 550&#x2013;850'' (Edinburgh: Society of Antiquaries of Scotland), ISBN 0-903903-24-5, p. 56.</ref> By the [[Scotland in the High Middle Ages|High Middle Ages]], the [[kings of Scotland]] could command forces of tens of thousands of men for short periods as part of the "common army", mainly of poorly armoured spear and bowmen. After the "[[Davidian Revolution]]" of the twelfth century, which introduced elements of feudalism to Scotland, these forces were augmented by small numbers of mounted and heavily armoured knights. These armies rarely managed to stand up to the usually larger and more professional armies produced by England, but they were used to good effect by Robert I at the Battle of Bannockburn in 1314 to secure Scottish independence.<ref>M. Brown, ''Bannockburn: the Scottish War and the British Isles, 1307-1323'' (Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press, 2008), ISBN 0-7486-3333-2, pp. 95-9.</ref> After the [[Wars of Scottish Independence]], the [[Auld Alliance]] between Scotland and France played a large part in the country's military activities, especially during the [[Hundred Years' War]]. In the [[Scotland in the Late Middle Ages|Late Middle Ages]] under the [[Royal House of Stewart|Stewart kings]] forces were further augmented by specialist troops, particularly [[men-at-arms]] and [[archery|archers]], hired by bonds of ''[[manrent]]'', similar to English [[indentures]] of the same period.<ref name="Brown2004">M. Brown, ''The Wars of Scotland, 1214-1371'' (Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press, 2004), ISBN 0-7486-1238-6, p. 58.</ref> Archers became much sought after as mercenaries in French armies of the fifteenth century in order to help counter the English superiority in this arm, becoming a major element of the French royal guards as the [[Garde Écossaise]].<ref>P. Contamine, "Scottish soldiers in France in the second half of the 15th century: mercenaries, immigrants, or Frenchmen in the making?" in G. G. Simpson, ed., ''The Scottish Soldier Abroad, 1247-1967'' (Edinburgh: Rowman & Littlefield, 1992), ISBN 0-85976-341-2, pp. 16-30.</ref> The Stewarts also adopted major innovations in continental warfare, such as longer pikes and the extensive use of artillery. However, in the early fifteenth century one of the best armed and largest Scottish armies ever assembled still met with defeat at the hands of an English army at [[the Battle of Flodden Field]] in 1513, which saw the destruction of a large number of ordinary troops, a large section of the nobility and the king, [[James IV of Scotland|James IV]].<ref name="Wormald1991p19">J. Wormald, ''Court, Kirk, and Community: Scotland, 1470-1625'' (Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press, 1991), ISBN 0-7486-0276-3, p. 19.</ref> In the sixteenth century the crown took an increasing role in the supply of military equipment.<ref name="Phillips1999p61">G. Phillips, ''The Anglo-Scots Wars, 1513-1550: A Military History'' (Woodbridge: Boydell Press, 1999), ISBN 0851157467, p. 61.</ref> The pike began to replace the spear and the Scots began to convert from the bow to gunpowder firearms.<ref>G. Phillips, ''The Anglo-Scots Wars, 1513-1550: A Military History'' (Woodbridge: Boydell Press, 1999), ISBN 0851157467, p. 68.</ref> The feudal heavy cavalry had begun to disappear from Scottish armies and the Scots fielded relatively large numbers of light horse, often drawn from the [[Scottish Borders|borders]].<ref>G. Phillips, ''The Anglo-Scots Wars, 1513-1550: A Military History'' (Woodbridge: Boydell Press, 1999), ISBN 0851157467, pp. 69-70.</ref> James IV brought in experts from France, Germany and the Netherlands and established a gun foundry in 1511.<ref name="Dawson-p76" /> Gunpowder weaponry fundamentally altered the nature of castle architecture from the mid-fifteenth century.<ref name="West1985p27">T. W. West, ''Discovering Scottish Architecture'' (Botley: Osprey, 1985), ISBN 0-85263-748-9, p. 27.</ref>

[[Image:Scottish soldiers in service of Gustavus Adolphus, 1631-cropped-.jpg|thumb|right|The earliest image of Scottish soldiers wearing tartan, from a woodcut c. 1631]]
In the early seventeenth century relatively large numbers of Scots took service in foreign armies involved in the [[Thirty Years War]].<ref>R. Mitchison, ''A History of Scotland'' (London: Routledge, 3rd edn., 2002), ISBN 0415278805, p. 183.</ref> As armed conflict with Charles I in the Bishop's Wars became likely, hundreds of Scots mercenaries returned home from foreign service, including experienced leaders like [[Alexander Leslie, 1st Earl of Leven|Alexander]] and [[David Leslie, Lord Newark|David Leslie]] and these veterans played an important role in training recruits.<ref name="Wheeler2002pp19-21">J. S. Wheeler, ''The Irish and British Wars, 1637-1654: Triumph, Tragedy, and Failure'' (London: Routledge, 2002), ISBN 0415221315, pp. 19-21.</ref> These systems would form the basis of the Covenanter armies that intervened in the Civil Wars in England and Ireland.<ref>J. S. Wheeler, ''The Irish and British Wars, 1637-1654: Triumph, Tragedy, and Failure'' (London: Routledge, 2002), ISBN 0415221315, p. 48.</ref> Scottish infantry were generally armed, as was almost universal in Western Europe, with a combination of pike and shot. Scottish armies may also have had individuals with a variety of weapons including bows, [[Lochaber axe]]s, and halberds.<ref>P. Edwards, S. Murdoch and A. MacKillop, ''Fighting for Identity: Scottish Military Experience c. 1550-1900'' (Leiden: Brill, 2002), ISBN 9004128239, p. 240.</ref> Most cavalry were probably equipped with pistols and swords, although there is some evidence that they included lancers.<ref>M. C. Fissel, ''The Bishops' Wars: Charles I's Campaigns Against Scotland, 1638-1640'' (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1994), ISBN 0521466865, p. 28.</ref> Royalist armies, like those led by [[James Graham, 1st Marquis of Montrose|James Graham, Marquis of Montrose]] (1643–44) and in [[Glencairn's rising]] (1653–54) were mainly composed of conventionally armed infantry with pike and shot.<ref>S. Reid, ''The Campaigns of Montrose: A Military History of the Civil War in Scotland 1639-1646'' (Mercat Press, 1990), ISBN 0901824925, p. 51.</ref> Montrose's forces were short of heavy artillery suitable for siege warfare and had only a small force of cavalry.<ref>J. Barratt, ''Cavalier Generals: King Charles I and his Commanders in the English Civil War, 1642-46'' (Pen & Sword Military, 2004), ISBN 184415128X, p. 169.</ref>

At the Restoration the Privy Council established a force of several infantry regiments and a few troops of horse and there were attempts to found a national militia on the English model. The standing army was mainly employed in the suppression of Covenanter rebellions and the guerilla war undertaken by the [[Cameronian]]s in the East.<ref name="Furgol2001pp637-82">E. M. Furgol, "Warfare, weapons and fortifications: 3 1600-1700" in M. Lynch, ed., ''The Oxford Companion to Scottish History'' (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2001), ISBN 0-19-211696-7, pp. 637-8.</ref> Pikemen became less important in the late seventeenth century and after the introduction of the [[socket bayonet]] disappeared altogether, while matchlock muskets were replaced by the more reliable [[flintlock]].<ref name=Furgol2001pp637-82/> On the eve of the [[Glorious Revolution]] the standing army in Scotland was about 3,000 men in various regiments and another 268 veterans in the major garrison towns.<ref name="Young2001pp24-5">J. Young, "Army: 1600-1750" in M. Lynch, ed., ''The Oxford Companion to Scottish History'' (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2001), ISBN 0-19-211696-7, pp. 24-5.</ref> After the Glorious Revolution the Scots were drawn into [[King William III|King William II]]'s continental wars, beginning with the [[Nine Years' War]] in Flanders (1689–97).<ref>{{cite book|last=Leask|first=Anthony|title=Sword of Scotland: Our Fighting Jocks|url=https://archive.org/details/swordofscotlandj0000leas|year=2006|publisher=Pen and Sword Books Limited|isbn=184415405X|page=[https://archive.org/details/swordofscotlandj0000leas/page/85 85]}}</ref> By the time of the [[Acts of Union 1707|Act of Union]], the Kingdom of Scotland had a [[standing army]] of seven units of infantry, two of horse and one troop of [[Household Cavalry|Horse Guards]], besides varying levels of fortress artillery in the garrison castles of Edinburgh, [[Dumbarton Castle|Dumbarton]], and Stirling, which would be incorporated into the [[British Army]].<ref name="Grove38">D. Grove, and C. Abraham, ''Fortress Scotland and the Jacobites'' (Batsford/Historic Scotland, 1995), ISBN 978-0-7134-7484-8, p. 38.</ref>

==Brataichean==
[[File:St. Andrew. Freemasons Hall, George Street Edinburgh.JPG|thumb|upright|left|Sculpture of Saint Andrew, Freemasons Hall, [[Edinburgh]]]]
The earliest recorded use of the [[Lion rampant]] as a royal emblem in Scotland was by [[Alexander II of Scotland|Alexander II]] in 1222.<ref name="mcandrew">{{cite book|title=Scotland's Historic Heraldry|url=https://archive.org/details/scotlandshistori0000mcan|publisher=Boydell Press|isbn=1-84383-261-5 |last=McAndrew|first=Bruce |year=2006 |quote=Most important, the convex shield now displays arms of A lion rampant, without as yet the embellishment of a border of any sort|page=[https://archive.org/details/scotlandshistori0000mcan/page/n55 24]}} [http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=QFkI3G31HTMC&printsec=frontcover&dq=%22Scotland%27s+Historic+Heraldry%22 At Google Book Search]</ref> It is recorded with the additional [[embellishment]] of a [[Ordinary (heraldry)#Subordinaries|double border]] set with [[Fleur-de-lis|lilies]] during the reign of [[Alexander III of Scotland|Alexander III]] (1249–86).<ref name="mcandrew"/> This [[Charge (heraldry)|emblem]] occupied the [[Escutcheon (heraldry)|shield]] of the [[Royal coat of arms of Scotland|royal coat of arms]] which, together with a royal [[banner]] displaying the same, was used by the King of Scots until the Union of the Crowns in 1603.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.royal.gov.uk/HistoryoftheMonarchy/KingsandQueensoftheUnitedKingdom/KingsandQueensoftheUnitedKingdom.aspx |title=United Kingdom Monarchs (1603-present) |accessdate=2009-12-15 |publisher=The Royal Household}}</ref> Then it was incorporated into both the royal [[Coat of arms|arms]] and royal banners of successive [[List of Scottish monarchs|Scottish]] then [[List of British monarchs|British]] monarchs in order to symbolise Scotland; as can be seen today in the [[Royal Standard of the United Kingdom]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.royal.gov.uk/MonarchUK/Symbols/RoyalStandard.aspx |title=Royal Standard |accessdate=2009-12-15 |publisher=The Royal Household}}</ref> Although now officially restricted to use by representatives of the Sovereign and at royal residences, the Royal Standard of Scotland continues to be one of Scotland's most recognisable symbols.<ref>{{cite news | first= | last= | coauthors= |authorlink= | title='Super regiment' badge under fire | date=2005-08-16 | publisher=British Broadcasting Corporation | url =http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/scotland/4157274.stm | work =BBC News | pages = | accessdate = 2009-12-09 | language = }}</ref>

According to legend, the [[Apostle (Christian)|apostle]] and [[martyr]] [[Saint Andrew]], the [[patron saint]] of Scotland, was [[crucified]] on an X-shaped [[cross]] at [[Patras]], (Patrae), in [[Achaea]].<ref name='NAS'/> Use of the familiar iconography of his martyrdom, showing the apostle bound to an X-shaped cross, first appears in the Kingdom of Scotland in 1180 during the reign of [[William I of Scotland|William I]]. This image was again depicted on [[Seal (emblem)|seals]] used during the late thirteenth century; including on one particular example used by the [[Guardians of Scotland]], dated 1286.<ref name='NAS'>{{cite web|url=http://www.nas.gov.uk/about/051124.asp |title= Feature: Saint Andrew seals Scotland's independence |accessdate=2009-12-09 |date=2007-11-28 |publisher=The National Archives of Scotland }}</ref> Use of a simplified symbol associated with Saint Andrew which does not depict his image, namely the [[saltire]], or crux decussata, (from the Latin crux, 'cross', and decussis, 'having the shape of the Roman numeral X'), has its origins in the late fourteenth century; the [[Parliament of Scotland]] decreed in 1385 that Scottish soldiers wear a white Saint Andrew's Cross on their person, both in front and behind, for the purpose of identification.<ref name="Bartram"/> The earliest reference to the Saint Andrew's Cross as a flag is to be found in the ''Vienna Book of Hours'', circa 1503, where a white saltire is depicted with a red background.<ref name='Bartram'>{{Citation| first=Graham | last=Bartram| coauthors=| contribution=The Story of Scotland's Flags| title=Proceedings of the XIX International Congress of Vexillology| editor-first=| editor-last=| coeditors=| publisher=Fédération internationale des associations vexillologiques| place=York, United Kingdom| pages=167–172| date=| year=2001| id= | contribution-url=http://www.flaginstitute.org/pdfs/Graham%20Bartram.pdf| format=PDF| accessdate=2009-12-09 }}</ref> In the case of Scotland, use of a blue background for the Saint Andrew's Cross is said to date from at least the 15th century,<ref>{{cite book|title=British Flags & Emblems|url=https://archive.org/details/britishflagsembl0000bart|publisher=Tuckwell Press|isbn=1-86232-297-X|last=Bartram|first=Graham|year=2004|quote=The blue background dates back to at least the 15th century.|page=[https://archive.org/details/britishflagsembl0000bart/page/10 10] }} [https://web.archive.org/web/20121109055700/http://www.flaginstitute.org/images/page10_large.gif www.flaginstitute.org]</ref> with the first certain illustration of a flag depicting such appearing in [[David Lyndsay|Sir David Lyndsay of the Mount]]'s ''Register of Scottish Arms,'' circa 1542.<ref name='SCRAN'>{{cite web|url=http://www.scran.ac.uk/database/record.php?usi=000-000-578-942-C&scache=2u90s101bf&searchdb=scran National Library of Scotland|title=Plate from the Lindsay Armorial |accessdate=2009-12-09 |year=1542 |work=Scran |publisher=Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland }}</ref>

Following the [[Union of the Crowns]] in 1603, [[James VI of Scotland|James VI, King of Scots]], commissioned new designs for a banner incorporating the flags of the Kingdom of Scotland and [[Kingdom of England]]. In 1606, a [[Union Flag]] was commissioned, combining the crosses of [[Saint George]], (the [[Flag of England]]), with that of Saint Andrew.<ref>{{cite book|last=Fox-Davies|first=Arthur Charles|authorlink=Arthur Charles Fox-Davies|title=The Art of Heraldry: An Encyclopædia of Armory|titlelink=The Art of Heraldry: An Encyclopædia of Armory|publisher=Bloomsbury Books|location=London|year=1904 |origyear=1986|page=399|isbn=0-906223-34-2}}</ref> There was also a [[Union Flag#Scottish Union Flag|''Scottish'' version]] of this flag, in which the cross of Saint Andrew overlaid the cross of St George. This design may have seen limited, unofficial use in Scotland until 1707, when the ''English'' variant of the same, whereby the cross of St George overlaid that of St Andrew, was adopted as the flag of the unified [[Kingdom of Great Britain]].<ref>{{cite book |last=Perrin |first= William G|title=British Flags; Their Early History and their Development at Sea, with an Account of the Origin of the Flag as a National Device |url=https://archive.org/details/britishflagsthei00perrrich |year=1922 |publisher=Oxford University Press |page=[https://archive.org/details/britishflagsthei00perrrich/page/207 207]}} [http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=mtc8AAAAIAAJ&printsec=frontcover&source=gbs_v2_summary_r&cad=0# Google Books]</ref><ref>{{cite book |last=Bartram |first=Graham |title=British Flags & Emblems |year=2005 |publisher=Flag Institute/Tuckwell |page=122}} [http://books.google.com/books?id=TD1mAAAAMAAJ&q=%22Scottish+Union+Flag%22&dq=%22Scottish+Union+Flag%22&pgis=1 Google books: ''"Unofficial 1606 Scottish Union Flag"'']</ref><ref>{{cite book |last=Crampton |first=William |title=Flags of the World |year=1992 |publisher=}}</ref><ref name="Smith 1973">{{cite book |last=Smith |first=Whitney |title=The Flag Bulletin |year=1973 |publisher=Flag Research Center}}</ref>

<gallery perrow="4">
File:Lionrampant.svg|The [[Royal Standard of Scotland]]
File:Flag of Scotland.svg|The [[Flag of Scotland]]; ''[[Azure (heraldry)|Azure]], a saltire [[argent]]''
File:Union Jack 1606 Scotland.svg|The [[Union Flag#Scottish Union Flag|Scottish Union Flag]] used between 1606 and 1707.

</gallery>

==Faic cuideachd==
*[[Lùchairt Fhàclann]]
*[[Onairean na h-Alba]]
*[[Lùchairt Ghleann Iucha]]
*[[Liosta monarcan na h-Alba]]
*[[Seann tomhasan Albannach]]
*[[Cèilean rìoghail na h-Alba]]
*[[Craobh-shinnsireachd monarcan na h-Alba]]

==Nòtaichean==
{{reflist|2|group=nb}}

==Tùsan==
{{Reflist|2}}

<center>
{| class="wikitable"
| width="25%" align="center" |'''Rìoghachd na h-Alba'''<br/><small>843–1707</small>
| width="25%" align="center" |''Ga leantainn le:''<br/>[[Rìoghachd na Breatainne Mòire]]<br/><small>1707–1801</small>
| width="25%" align="center" |''Ga leantainn le:''<br/>[[Rìoghachd na Breatainne Mòire agus na h-Èireann]]<br/><small>1801–1922</small>
| width="25%" align="center" |''Ga leantainn le:''<br/>[[Rìoghachd na Breatainne Mòire agus Èireann a Tuath]]<br/><small>since 1922</small>
|}
</center>

{{DEFAULTSORT:Alba, Rìoghachd na h-}}
{{Smachd ùghdarrais}}
[[Category:Eachdraidh na h-Alba]]
[[Category:Monarcachd na h-Alba]]