147-635: The National War Museum is a museum dedicated to warfare, which is located inside Edinburgh Castle in Edinburgh , Scotland. Opened in 1933 in a converted 18th-century ordnance storehouse, the museum is run by the National Museums Scotland and covers 400 years of Scotland at war from the 17th century through permanent exhibits and special exhibitions. It was formerly known as the Scottish United Services Museum , and prior to this,
294-736: A coronation in 1651 , when Charles II was crowned at Scone . As Oliver Cromwell had invaded Scotland the previous year, and Edinburgh Castle had surrendered to his army that December, the Honours could not be returned there. The English Crown Jewels had already been melted down and struck into coins by the Commonwealth . With Cromwell's army fast advancing on Scone, in June 1651 the Privy Council decided to place them at Dunnottar Castle in Kincardineshire ,
441-456: A military garrison . Its importance as a part of Scotland's national heritage was recognised increasingly from the early 19th century onwards, and various restoration programmes have been carried out over the past century and a half. Edinburgh Castle has played a prominent role in Scottish history , and has served variously as a royal residence , an arsenal , a treasury , a national archive ,
588-660: A mint , a prison , a military fortress, and the home of the Honours of Scotland – the Scottish regalia . As one of the most important strongholds in the Kingdom of Scotland , the castle was involved in many historical conflicts from the Wars of Scottish Independence in the 14th century to the Jacobite rising of 1745 . Research undertaken in 2014 identified 26 sieges in its 1,100-year history, giving it
735-521: A 1.5 m (5 ft) long sword belt that is made from woven silk and thread-of-gold and has a silver-gilt buckle. In 2023 the Sword of State was considered too fragile to be presented along with the other Honours of Scotland to King Charles III at the national service of thanksgiving and dedication at St Giles Cathedral on 5 July. A new ceremonial sword, named the Elizabeth Sword after the late monarch,
882-605: A Scottish museum were drawn up in 1917 by Alexander Ormiston Curle , curator of the National Museum of Scotland , under advice from organisers in London, as well as a civic committee of the Edinburgh council, set up by Lord Provost John Lorne MacLeod . John Stewart-Murray, 8th Duke of Atholl , was also a supporter of the idea. The committee worked through 1918 and 1919 on ideas for the museum, including plans for procuring exhibits. After
1029-475: A blessed hat in 1507 as papal recognition of James's defence of Christendom (see blessed sword and hat ). The sword, which measures 137.8 cm (5 ft) in length, was made by Domenico da Sutri and replaced a native-made Sword of Honour that had been made in 1502 to complement the Sceptre, and which has been lost. The steel blade, measuring 99 centimetres (3.25 ft) in length, is etched on either side with
1176-448: A church at Edinburgh, as well as at Dumbarton and other places. Similar names are shared by many other Iron Age hillforts and may have simply described a castle that had never been taken by force or derived from an earlier Brittonic name like mag dun . An archaeological excavation in the early 1990s uncovered evidence of the site having been settled during the late Bronze Age or early Iron Age , potentially making Castle Rock
1323-575: A claim to having been "the most besieged place in Great Britain and one of the most attacked in the world". Few of the present buildings pre-date the Lang Siege of 1573 , when the medieval defences were largely destroyed by artillery bombardment. The most notable exceptions are St Margaret's Chapel from the early 12th century, which is regarded as the oldest building in Edinburgh, the Royal Palace, and
1470-495: A crown and bears a sword and a sceptre on his Great Seal. His brother, Alexander I , is shown holding an orb – a pictorial emblem of divine kingship that was not actually part of the Scottish regalia. By the reign of John Balliol , the regalia consisted of a crown, sceptre, sword and ring. After the English invasion in 1296, these regalia and Stone of Scone , upon which monarchs of Scotland were invested and crowned, were captured by
1617-535: A fight in September 1745, but the castle remained in the hands of its ageing Deputy Governor, General George Preston , who refused to surrender. After their victory over the government army at Prestonpans on 21 September, the Jacobites attempted to blockade the castle. Preston's response was to bombard Jacobite positions within the town. After several buildings had been demolished and four people killed, Charles called off
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#17328523124231764-560: A force of around 1,000 English troops, led by Sir William Drury , arrived in Edinburgh. They were followed by 27 cannons from Berwick-upon-Tweed , including one that had been cast within Edinburgh Castle and captured by the English at Flodden. The English troops built an artillery emplacement on Castle Hill, immediately facing the east walls of the castle, and five others to the north, west and south. By 17 May these batteries were ready, and
1911-405: A garrison was continuously maintained at the castle. The medieval royal castle was transformed into a garrison fortress, but continued to see military and political action. The Marquis of Argyll was imprisoned here in 1661, when King Charles II settled old scores with his enemies following his return to the throne. Twenty years later, Argyll's son, the 9th Earl of Argyll , was also imprisoned in
2058-741: A great oak chest , and the doorway of the Crown Room was walled up. On 28 October 1817, the Prince Regent issued a royal warrant authorising specified commissioners to break open the walled-up doorway of the Crown Room. The commissioners were: Lord Granton (the Lord President of the Court of Session ), Lord Boyle (the Lord Justice Clerk ), William Adam (the Lord Chief Commissioner of
2205-473: A gun was in 1384, and the "great bombard " Mons Meg was delivered to Edinburgh in 1457. The first recorded mention of an armoury for the manufacture of guns occurs in 1474, and by 1498 the master gunner Robert Borthwick was casting bronze guns at Edinburgh. By 1511 Edinburgh was the principal foundry in Scotland, supplanting Stirling Castle, with Scottish and European smiths working under Borthwick, who by 1512
2352-553: A historic building in Scotland, and special care was taken when installing 31 kW solar panels on the roof of the War Memorial, obscured by its parapet. The Old and New Towns of Edinburgh , a World Heritage Site inscribed by UNESCO in 1995, is described as "dominated by a medieval fortress". Edinburgh Castle is located at the top of the Royal Mile , at the west end of Edinburgh's Old Town . The volcanic Castle Rock offers
2499-456: A large pearl in the centre are attached to the bonnet between the crown's arches. The Sceptre, a symbolic ornamental rod held by the Scottish monarchs at their coronation, was a gift from Pope Alexander VI to James IV in 1494. This papal gift replaced a native-made sceptre which dated from the 14th century at the earliest, and which has been lost. The Sceptre was made in Italy of silver gilt ,
2646-596: A large ruby etched with a St George's Cross and bordered by 26 diamonds applied in the 19th century. Queen Victoria 's fourth daughter, Princess Louise, Duchess of Argyll , died in 1939 and bequeathed a necklace, locket, and pendant to the nation of Scotland. The London-made jewellery was a wedding gift to Louise from her husband the Marquess of Lorne (later the Duke of Argyll ) in 1871. The necklace contains 190 diamonds connected by 13 pearls enclosed with diamonds; it suspends
2793-564: A naturally defended position, with sheer cliffs to north and south, and a steep ascent from the west. The only easy approach is from the town to the east, and the castle's defences are situated accordingly, with a series of gates protecting the route to the summit of the Castle Rock. In front of the castle is a long sloping forecourt known as the Esplanade. Originally the Spur, a 16th-century hornwork ,
2940-505: A portrait of James IV in the Book of Hours that was created for his marriage to Margaret Tudor in 1503. Arches were added to the crown by Adam Leys for James V in 1532, making it an imperial crown , symbolising the king's status as an emperor of his own domain, subservient to no one but God. Arches first appeared as pictorial emblems on coins under James III , who in 1469 claimed "ful jurisdictione and free impire within his realm". In 1540,
3087-469: A rebellion in the Highlands, climbed up the western side of the Castle Rock to urge Gordon to hold the castle against the new King. Gordon agreed, but during the ensuing siege he refused to fire upon the town, while the besiegers inflicted little damage on the castle. Despite Dundee's initial successes in the north, Gordon eventually surrendered on 14 June, due to dwindling supplies and having lost 70 men during
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#17328523124233234-438: A recognisable symbol of Edinburgh in particular and of Scotland as a whole. The castle stands upon the plug of an extinct volcano , which is estimated to have risen about 350 million years ago during the lower Carboniferous period. The Castle Rock is the remains of a volcanic pipe , which cut through the surrounding sedimentary rock before cooling to form very hard dolerite , a type of basalt . Subsequent glacial erosion
3381-513: A seat of royal power principally through his administrative reforms (termed by some modern scholars the Davidian Revolution ). Between 1139 and 1150, David held an assembly of nobles and churchmen, a precursor to the parliament of Scotland , at the castle. Any buildings or defences would probably have been of timber, although two stone buildings are documented as having existed in the 12th century. Of these, St. Margaret's Chapel remains at
3528-551: A shortage of resources, although the battery's position obscuring the ancient David's Tower and enhancing the prominence of the palace block, has been seen as a significant decision. The battered palace block remained unused, particularly after James VI departed to become King of England in 1603. James had repairs carried out in 1584, and in 1615–1616 more extensive repairs were carried out in preparation for his return visit to Scotland. The mason William Wallace and master of works James Murray introduced an early Scottish example of
3675-587: A siege, but eventually withdrew due to lack of supplies. At least by 1436-7, Sir William Crichton was Keeper or Governor of Edinburgh Castle, and soon after became Chancellor of Scotland . In an attempt to gain the regency of Scotland, Crichton sought to break the power of the Douglases , the principal noble family in the kingdom. The 16-year-old William Douglas, 6th Earl of Douglas , and his younger brother David were summoned to Edinburgh Castle in November 1440. After
3822-474: A window on a rope. The duke fled to France, then England, where he allied himself with King Edward IV . In 1482, Albany marched into Scotland with Richard, Duke of Gloucester (later King Richard III), and an English army. James III was trapped in the castle from 22 July to 29 September 1482 until he successfully negotiated a settlement. During the 15th century, the castle was increasingly used as an arsenal and armaments factory. The first known purchase of
3969-483: Is 13 cm (5 in) tall and weighs 110 grams (3.5 ozt). Never used again, it was discovered in the possession of Sir George Grant-Suttie, 7th Baronet , in 1907 by the Scottish Church Society . In 1948 it was acquired by the National Museum of Scotland . The ampulla bears the following Latin inscription to commemorate its use at Charles I's coronation: Under the terms of a royal warrant of 1818,
4116-464: Is a historic castle in Edinburgh , Scotland . It stands on Castle Rock , which has been occupied by humans since at least the Iron Age . There has been a royal castle on the rock since the reign of Malcolm III in the 11th century, and the castle continued to be a royal residence until 1633. From the 15th century, the castle's residential role declined, and by the 17th century it was principally used as
4263-430: Is set with 122 diamonds and measures 7.2 cm (2.8 in) by 6.4 cm (2.5 in). The saint's cloak and a large suspension loop are both missing. The collar is 1.57 metres (5.2 ft) long and has 26 alternating knots and enamelled badges, each with a tudor rose in the centre. The Ruby Ring was probably used at the English coronations of Charles I and Charles II, and certainly that of James. It has
4410-573: Is the Low Defence, while at the base of the rock is the ruined Wellhouse Tower, built in 1362 to guard St. Margaret's Well. This natural spring provided an important secondary source of water for the castle, the water being lifted up by a crane mounted on a platform known as the Crane Bastion. The areas to the north and west of the Argyle Tower are largely occupied by military buildings erected after
4557-518: The Estates of Scotland , after convening to accept William formally as their new king, demanded that Duke of Gordon , Governor of the Castle, surrender the fortress. Gordon, who had been appointed by James VII as a fellow Catholic, refused. In March 1689, the castle was blockaded by 7,000 troops against a garrison of 160 men, further weakened by religious disputes. On 18 March, Viscount Dundee , intent on raising
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4704-496: The General Officer Commanding in Scotland, the first holder being Lieutenant-General Sir Archibald Cameron of Lochiel. The castle passed into the care of Historic Scotland when it was established in 1991, and was designated a Scheduled Ancient Monument in 1993. The buildings and structures of the castle are further protected by 24 separate listings , including 13 at category A , the highest level of protection for
4851-885: The Keeper of the Great Seal of Scotland (the First Minister of Scotland ), the Lord Clerk Register, the Lord Advocate , and the Lord Justice Clerk are ex-officio Commissioners for the Keeping of the Regalia. Since 1996, the commissioners have also been empowered by another royal warrant for the safekeeping of the Stone of Scone and for the arrangement of its return to Westminster Abbey for
4998-477: The National Museum of Scotland . The Crown Room in Edinburgh Castle also contains the Elizabeth Sword , a silver-gilt wand, the 17th-century Stewart Jewels (which were added in 1830), and the Lorne Jewels, which were bequeathed to Scotland by Princess Louise, Duchess of Argyll , in 1939. In the earliest known depiction of a Scottish king wearing his symbols of sovereignty, King Edgar (reigned 1097–1107) wears
5145-669: The National Museums of Scotland . It was formerly known as the Scottish United Services Museum, and, prior to this, the Scottish Naval and Military Museum, when it was located in the Queen Anne Building . It covers Scotland's military history over the past 400 years, and includes a wide range of military artefacts, such as uniforms, medals and weapons. The exhibits also illustrate the history and causes behind
5292-594: The Royal Scots . The castle, in the care of Historic Environment Scotland , is Scotland's most (and the United Kingdom 's second most) visited paid tourist attraction, with over 2.2 million visitors in 2019 and over 70 percent of leisure visitors to Edinburgh visiting the castle. As the backdrop to the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo during the annual Edinburgh Festival , the castle has become
5439-598: The Royal Scots Dragoon Guards Museum . The latter was opened in 1995 by the regiment's Colonel, Queen Elizabeth II . Also nearby, in the former Royal Scots drill hall , constructed in 1900, is the Regimental Museum of the Royal Scots (The Royal Regiment) . The military prison was built in 1842 as a detention block for the castle garrison and was extended in the 1880s. It was last used in 1923, when
5586-591: The Scottish Crown Jewels , are the regalia that were worn by Scottish monarchs at their coronation . Kept in the Crown Room in Edinburgh Castle , they date from the 15th and 16th centuries, and are the oldest surviving set of crown jewels in the British Isles . The Honours were used together for the coronation of Scottish monarchs from Mary, Queen of Scots in 1543 until Charles II in 1651. From
5733-515: The Scottish Highlands , protection against chemical warfare, and letters sent home from combat by personnel. It also houses a gallery, with works such as The Thin Red Line by Robert Gibb , and a library. Various movements proposing museums dedicated to warfare arose during World War I , and the consensus amongst those involved was that they should be regional in nature. Preliminary ideas for
5880-689: The Scottish Naval and Military Museum . The museum is located in the Hospital Square of Edinburgh Castle , within the Old Town area of Edinburgh , Scotland. The building, which has been category-B listed since 1970, comprises two storeys with a ten-bay rectangular-plan. It is managed by National Museums Scotland . Admission to the museum is included in the entry charge for the castle. The museum's collection includes items used by Scotland's armed forces over many centuries. These include broadswords from
6027-694: The Scottish Secretary of State , the King's Remembrancer , and the Governor General of Canada . On 24 June 1953 they were presented to the newly crowned Elizabeth II at a national service of thanksgiving in St Giles' Cathedral. Keen to avoid the service being interpreted as a Scottish coronation, Sir Winston Churchill , then Prime Minister, advised the Queen to dress with relative informality. From 1971 until 1987
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6174-621: The Union of the Crowns in 1603 until the Union of 1707 , the Honours were present at sittings of the Parliament of Scotland to signify the presence of the monarch and their acceptance of the power of Parliament. From at least the 16th century the monarch (or the Lord High Commissioner ) signified the granting of Royal Assent by their touching the final printed copy of an Act of Parliament with
6321-524: The Virgin Mary , wearing a crown and holding the infant Jesus in her right arm and an orb in her left hand; Saint James the Great holding a book and a staff; and Saint Andrew holding a book and a saltire . The finial is topped by a globe of polished rock crystal , surmounted with a golden globe topped by a large pearl. The Sword of State was a gift from Pope Julius II presented to James IV along with
6468-446: The devolved Scottish Parliament . It was carried on a cushion, the official reason being that it was too fragile for the Queen to wear. In 2018 plans were announced to renovate the "past its sell-by date" Honours exhibition and improve accessibility. The Crown of Scotland was placed on Elizabeth II's coffin at a service in St Giles' Cathedral on 12 September 2022 and remained there whilst she lay in rest. Her successor Charles III
6615-612: The pope . The Honours also appear on the crest of the Royal Coat of Arms of Scotland and on the Scottish version of the Royal Coat of Arms of the United Kingdom , where the red lion of the King of Scots is depicted wearing the crown and holding the sword and sceptre. Coronation robes, a pair of spurs, a ring and consort crowns were also part of the Scottish regalia, none of which survives today. The gold ampulla of Charles I that held anointing oil at his 1633 coronation now belongs to
6762-473: The slighting of the castle to prevent its re-occupation by the English. Four months later, his army secured victory at the Battle of Bannockburn . After Bruce's death in 1329, Edward III of England determined to renew the attempted subjugation of Scotland and supported the claim of Edward Balliol , son of the former King John Balliol , over that of Bruce's young son David II . Edward invaded in 1333, marking
6909-730: The visit of George IV in 1822, Elizabeth II 's first visit to Scotland as monarch in 1953, and a national service of thanksgiving for Charles III following his coronation in 2023. The Crown of Scotland is present at each Opening Ceremony of the Scottish Parliament . The Honours of Scotland consist of the Crown of Scotland , the Sceptre , and the Sword of State . The gold crown was made in Scotland and, in its present form, dates from 1540. The sword and sceptre were made in Italy as gifts to James IV from
7056-407: The "Maidens' Castle". The 16th-century English writer John Stow (c. 1525 – 1605), credited Ebraucus with building "the Castell of Maidens called Edenbrough" in 989 BC. The name "Maidens' Castle" ( Latin : Castra or Castellum Puellarum ) occurs frequently up until the 16th century. It appears in charters of David I (r. 1124–1153) and his successors in the Kingdom of Scotland , although
7203-474: The 18th century by a tutor to the Earl Marischal , records that the honours were lowered from the castle onto the beach, where they were collected by Fletcher's servant and carried off in a creel of seaweed. Having smuggled the honours from the castle, Fletcher and her husband buried them under the floor of the Old Kirk at Kinneff . At the Restoration of Charles II in 1660, the Honours were removed from Kinneff Old Kirk and returned to Edinburgh Castle. During
7350-402: The 1st and 2nd centuries AD, consistent with Ptolemy 's reference to "Alauna". Signs of occupation included some Roman material, including pottery, bronzes and brooches, implying a possible trading relationship between the Votadini and the Romans beginning with Agricola's northern campaign in AD 82, and continuing through to the establishment of the Antonine Wall around AD 140. The nature of
7497-477: The Bruce by Thomas Clapperton and William Wallace by Alexander Carrick were added in 1929, and the Latin motto Nemo me impune lacessit is inscribed above the gate. The dry ditch in front of the entrance was completed in its present form in 1742. Within the Gatehouse are offices, and to the north is the most recent addition to the castle; the ticket office, completed in 2008 to a design by Gareth Hoskins Architects . The road, built by James III in 1464 for
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#17328523124237644-441: The Castle Rock was first used for human habitation. There is no record of any Roman interest in the location during General Agricola 's invasion of northern Britain near the end of the 1st century AD. Ptolemy 's map of the 2nd century AD shows a settlement in the territory of the Votadini named "Alauna", meaning "rock place", making this possibly the earliest known name for the Castle Rock. This could, however, refer to another of
7791-441: The Castle Rock. The poem tells of the Gododdin King Mynyddog Mwynfawr , and his band of warriors, who, after a year of feasting in their fortress, set out to do battle with the Angles at "Catreath" (possibly Catterick ) in Yorkshire. Despite performing glorious deeds of valour and bravery, the poem relates that the Gododdin were massacred. The Irish annals record that in 638, after the events related in Y Gododdin , "Etin"
7938-543: The Castle Rock. Excavations at nearby Dunsapie Hill , Duddingston , Inveresk and Traprain Law had revealed relatively large settlements and it was supposed that these sites had been chosen in preference to the Castle Rock. However, the excavation in the 1990s pointed to the probable existence of an enclosed hillfort on the rock, although only the fringes of the site were excavated. House fragments revealed were similar to Iron Age dwellings previously found in Northumbria. The 1990s dig revealed clear signs of habitation from
8085-402: The Castle. Grange was a trusted lieutenant of the Regent, but after Moray's murder in January 1570 his allegiance to the King's cause began to waver. Intermittent civil war continued between the supporters of the two monarchs, and in April 1571 Dumbarton Castle fell to "the King's men". Under the influence of William Maitland of Lethington , Mary's secretary, Grange changed sides, occupying
8232-446: The Covenanter army at Dunbar in September. Edinburgh Castle was taken after a three-month siege, which caused further damage. The Governor of the Castle, Colonel Walter Dundas, surrendered to Cromwell despite having enough supplies to hold out, allegedly from a desire to change sides. After his Restoration in 1660, Charles II opted to maintain a full-time standing army based on Cromwell's New Model Army . From this time until 1923,
8379-415: The Crown Room on 4 February 1818. Half expecting to find the oak chest empty, they were relieved to open it and discover the crown, sceptre and sword, wrapped in linen, exactly as they had been left 111 years earlier. The Royal Standard was hoisted above Edinburgh Castle in celebration of the historic moment. Cheers of excitement rippled through the castle, and members of the public gathered outside to hear
8526-459: The Earls of Angus , Lennox , and Mar . From the Union of the Crowns in 1603 until the Union of 1707 , the Honours were taken to sittings of the Parliament of Scotland to signify the monarch's presence and their acceptance of the power of the Parliament. Spurs – emblems of knighthood and chivalry – were presented to Charles I at his Scottish coronation in 1633; the spurs and coronation robes also have been lost. The Honours were last used at
8673-411: The Edinburgh publisher William Nelson and carried out by Hippolyte Blanc , saw the Argyle Tower built over the Portcullis Gate and the Great Hall restored after years of use as a barracks. A new Gatehouse was built in 1888. During the 19th century, several schemes were put forward for rebuilding the whole castle as a Scottish baronial style château . Work began in 1858, but was soon abandoned, and only
8820-474: The English army and taken south to London . New regalia were made in the 14th century for subsequent coronations, and though the Crown of Scotland may in its previous form date from this period, the other regalia were gradually replaced by the 16th century with the current set of Honours – consisting of the Crown of Scotland remodelled in 1540, and the Sceptre and Sword of State which were both made in Italy and given to James IV as papal gifts. A consort crown
8967-404: The English rather than the Regent Morton. Edinburgh Castle was handed over to George Douglas of Parkhead , the Regent's brother, and the garrison was allowed to go free. In contrast, Kirkcaldy of Grange, his brother James and two jewellers, James Mossman and James Cokke , who had been minting coins in Mary's name inside the castle, were hanged at the Cross in Edinburgh on 3 August. Much of
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#17328523124239114-432: The English to press their advantage, the Scots hastily constructed a town wall around Edinburgh and augmented the castle's defences. Robert Borthwick and a Frenchman, Antoine d'Arces , were involved in designing new artillery defences and fortifications in 1514, though it appears from lack of evidence that little of the planned work was carried out. Three years later, King James V (r.1513–1542), still only five years old,
9261-441: The Jury Court), Major-General Sir John Hope (the Commander-in-Chief, Scotland ), Kincaid Mackenzie (the Lord Provost of Edinburgh ), James Wedderburn ( Solicitor General ), the novelist and historian Walter Scott (in his capacity as Clerk of Session ), William Clerk (clerk of the Jury Court), Henry Jardine ( Deputy Remembrancer in Exchequer ), and Thomas Thomson (Deputy Lord Clerk Register ). The commissioners broke into
9408-423: The King's forces and the Presbyterian Covenanters . The Covenanters, led by Alexander Leslie , captured Edinburgh Castle after a short siege, although it was restored to Charles after the Peace of Berwick in June the same year. The peace was short-lived, however, and the following year the Covenanters took the castle again, this time after a three-month siege, during which the garrison ran out of supplies. The Spur
9555-424: The King's party, with Grange confined to the castle. The truce expired on 1 January 1573, and Grange began bombarding the town. His supplies of powder and shot, however, were running low, and despite having 40 cannons available, there were only seven gunners in the garrison. The King's forces, now with the Earl of Morton in charge as regent, were making headway with plans for a siege. Trenches were dug to surround
9702-431: The Order of the Thistle is a gold and silver locket suspended from a ribbon that contains an oval piece of chalcedony into which is carved a cameo figure of Saint Andrew. The cameo is bordered with 12 diamonds. Inscribed on the back is the Order's Latin motto: NEMO ME IMPUNE LACESSIT (no one attacks me with impunity). Inside is a miniature portrait of Princess Louise of Stolberg-Gedern , wife of Charles Edward Stuart ,
9849-413: The Sceptre during a meeting of the Parliament. Following the Union of 1707, the Honours were locked away in a chest in Edinburgh Castle and the Crown Jewels of England continued to be used by British monarchs as the Crown Jewels of the United Kingdom . The Honours were rediscovered in 1818 and have been on public display at Edinburgh Castle ever since. The Honours have been used at state occasions including
9996-484: The Sceptre. The Honours were usually kept in Edinburgh Castle, where they remained during the Marian Civil War . Mungo Brady made substitutes for a Parliament at Stirling in 1571. The Honours were found in a chest in a vault or "cave" when Edinburgh Castle surrendered in May 1573. Henry Echlin of Pittadro negotiated the delivery of the Honours to Regent Morton . Morton brought the Honours to Stirling Castle for his Parliament on 15 July 1578, where they were held by
10143-451: The Treaty with a clause stating that "... the crown, scepter and sword of state... continue to be keeped as they are in that part of the united kingdome now called Scotland, and that they shall so remain in all tyme coming, notwithstanding of the union." With the adjournment of Parliament on 25 March 1707, the Honours no longer had any practical use. They were taken to the Crown Room in Edinburgh Castle, where they were safely locked away in
10290-468: The blockade. The Jacobites themselves had no heavy guns with which to respond, and by November they had marched into England, leaving Edinburgh to the castle garrison. Over the next century, the castle vaults were used to hold prisoners of war during several conflicts, including the Seven Years' War (1756–1763), the American War of Independence (1775–1783) and the Napoleonic Wars (1803–1815). During this time, several new buildings were erected within
10437-430: The bombardment began. Over the next 12 days, the gunners dispatched around 3,000 shots at the castle. On 22 May, the south wall of David's Tower collapsed, and the next day the Constable's Tower also fell. The debris blocked the castle entrance, as well as the Fore Well, although this had already run dry. On 26 May, the English attacked and captured the Spur, the outer fortification of the castle, which had been isolated by
10584-533: The castle and replaced by canons , considered "fitter to live among soldiers". However, this story was considered "apocryphal" by the 19th-century antiquarian Daniel Wilson and has been ignored by historians since. The name may have been derived from a "Cult of the Nine Maidens" type of legend. Arthurian legends suggest that the site once held a shrine to Morgain la Fee , one of nine sisters. Later, St Monenna, said to be one of nine companions, reputedly invested
10731-489: The castle became a major garrison in the early 18th century. Adjacent to Mills Mount are the 18th-century cart sheds, now tea rooms. The Governor's House to the south was built in 1742 as accommodation for the Governor, Storekeeper, and Master Gunner, and was used until the post of Governor became vacant in the later 19th century; it was then used by nurses of the castle hospital. Today, it functions as an officers' mess , and as
10878-468: The castle for religious Nonconformism in the reign of King James VII . He escaped by disguising himself as his sister's footman , but was recaptured and returned to the castle after his failed rebellion to oust James from the throne in 1685. James VII was deposed and exiled by the Glorious Revolution of 1688, which installed William of Orange as King of England. Not long after, in early 1689,
11025-475: The castle in 1371. It was completed by his successor, Robert II , in the 1370s. The tower stood on the site of the present Half Moon Battery connected by a section of curtain wall to the smaller Constable's Tower, a round tower built between 1375 and 1379 where the Portcullis Gate now stands. In the early 15th century, another English invasion, this time under Henry IV , reached Edinburgh Castle and began
11172-494: The castle to England. A large garrison numbering 325 men was installed in 1300. Edward also brought to Scotland his master builders of the Welsh castles, including Thomas de Houghton and Master Walter of Hereford, both of whom travelled from Wales to Edinburgh. After the death of Edward I in 1307, however, England's control over Scotland weakened. On 14 March 1314, a surprise night attack by Thomas Randolph, 1st Earl of Moray recaptured
11319-428: The castle was subsequently rebuilt by Regent Morton, including the Spur, the new Half Moon Battery and the Portcullis Gate. Some of these works were supervised by William MacDowall , the master of work who fifteen years earlier had repaired David's Tower. The Half Moon Battery, while impressive in size, is considered by historians to have been an ineffective and outdated artillery fortification. This may have been due to
11466-570: The castle's role as a royal home subsequently declined. James IV did, however, construct the Great Hall, which was completed in the early 16th century, and the castle featured in his tournaments of the Wild Knight and the Black Lady . His daughter Margaret Stewart was lodged in the castle with her servant Ellen More . James IV was killed in battle at Flodden Field , on 9 September 1513. Expecting
11613-464: The castle, and St Margaret's Well was poisoned. By February, all Queen Mary's other supporters had surrendered to the Regent, but Grange resolved to resist despite water shortages within the castle. The garrison continued to bombard the town, killing a number of citizens. They also made sorties to set fires, burning 100 houses in the town and then firing on anyone attempting to put out the flames. In April,
11760-485: The castle, including powder magazines, stores, the Governor's House (1742), and the New Barracks (1796–1799). A mass prison break in 1811, in which 49 prisoners of war escaped via a hole in the south wall, persuaded the authorities that the castle vaults were no longer suitable as a prison. This use ceased in 1814 and the castle began gradually to assume a different role as a national monument. In 1818, Sir Walter Scott
11907-456: The castle. John Barbour 's narrative poem The Brus relates how a party of thirty hand-picked men was guided by one William Francis, a member of the garrison who knew of a route along the north face of the Castle Rock and a place where the wall might be scaled. Making the difficult ascent, Randolph's men scaled the wall, surprised the garrison and took control. Robert the Bruce immediately ordered
12054-449: The castle. However, Fordun's chronicle was not written until the later 14th century, and the near-contemporary account of the life of St Margaret by Bishop Turgot makes no mention of a castle. During the reigns of Malcolm III and his sons, Edinburgh Castle became one of the most significant royal centres in Scotland. Malcolm's son King Edgar died here in 1107. Malcolm's youngest son, King David I (r.1124–1153), developed Edinburgh as
12201-508: The castle. The King's party appealed to Elizabeth I of England for assistance, as they lacked the artillery and money required to reduce the castle, and feared that Grange would receive aid from France and the Duke of Alba in the Spanish Netherlands . Elizabeth sent ambassadors to negotiate, and in July 1572 a truce was agreed and the blockade lifted. The town was effectively surrendered to
12348-446: The circlet was melted down and recast by the Edinburgh goldsmith John Mosman , with the addition of 22 gemstones to the original 20 and an extra 1.2 kilograms (41 oz) of Scottish gold. James V first wore it to his wife's coronation in the same year at Holyrood Abbey . It weighs 1.6 kilograms (3 lb 10 oz), and the circlet is decorated with alternating fleurs-de-lis and crosses fleury . Four gold half-arches, preserved from
12495-433: The collapse. The following day Grange emerged from the castle by a ladder after calling for a ceasefire to allow negotiations for a surrender to take place. When it was made clear that he would not be allowed to go free even if he ended the siege, Grange resolved to continue the resistance, but the garrison threatened to mutiny. He therefore arranged for Drury and his men to enter the castle on 28 May, preferring to surrender to
12642-525: The court of Henry II of France , and was said to have the arms of France carved on it. James V's widow, Mary of Guise , acted as regent from 1554 until her death at the castle in 1560. The following year, the Catholic Mary, Queen of Scots, returned from France to begin her reign, which was marred by crises and quarrels among the powerful Protestant Scottish nobility. In 1565, the Queen made an unpopular marriage with Henry Stuart, Lord Darnley , and
12789-579: The debates in the Scottish Parliament from October 1706 to January 1707 on the Treaty of Union, rumour spread that the Honours were to be taken to England and melted down (an obscene song from the post-union period suggested that they were to be melted down to be turned into a set of dildos for Queen Anne ). To allay fears over the fate of the Honours, on 14 January 1707 the Parliament amended Article 24 of
12936-558: The double-pile block. The principal external features were the three, three-storey oriel windows on the east façade, facing the town and emphasising that this was a palace rather than just a place of defence. During his visit in 1617, James held court in the refurbished palace block, but still preferred to sleep at Holyrood. In 1621, King James granted Sir William Alexander the land in North America between New England and Newfoundland , as Nova Scotia ("New Scotland"). To promote
13083-696: The early 16th-century Great Hall. The castle is the site of the Scottish National War Memorial and the National War Museum . The British Army is still responsible for some parts of the castle, although its presence is now largely ceremonial and administrative. The castle is the regimental headquarters of the Royal Regiment of Scotland and the Royal Scots Dragoon Guards and houses their regimental museums , along with that of
13230-423: The end of the 12th century, Edinburgh Castle was established as the main repository of Scotland's official state papers. A century later, in 1286, on the death of King Alexander III , the throne of Scotland became vacant. Edward I of England was appointed to adjudicate the competing claims for the Scottish crown, but used the opportunity to attempt to establish himself as the feudal overlord of Scotland. During
13377-464: The end of the war, however, priority was given to the construction of the Scottish National War Memorial , which opened in 1927, and the museum project was put on hold. The museum project was resurrected in the late 1920s by the Duke of Atholl, utilising a building inside Edinburgh Castle which was built in the 1748 by William Skinner as a storehouse for ordnance. Construction took more than three years, and
13524-513: The fact that the 9th Earl of Argyll had been held here prior to his execution in 1685. Described as "restoration in an extreme form", the rebuilding of the Argyle Tower was the first in a series of works funded by the publisher William Nelson. Just inside the gate is the Argyle Battery overlooking Princes Street , with Mills Mount Battery, the location of the One O'Clock Gun, to the west. Below these
13671-469: The family seat of the Earl Marischal , the custodian of the Honours. They were brought to Dunnottar, hidden in sacks of wool, and Sir George Ogilvie of Barras, lieutenant-governor of the castle, was given responsibility for its defence. In November 1651, Cromwell's troops called on Ogilvie to surrender, but he refused. During the subsequent blockade of the castle, the removal of the Honours of Scotland
13818-449: The figures of Saint Peter and Saint Paul , and the words: JULIUS II PONT MAX (Julius II Supreme Pontiff) in inlaid gold lettering. The 38.7-centimetre-long (1.27 ft) silver-gilt handle is decorated with oak leaves and acorns, with two stylised oak leaves which overlap the scabbard, and a crossguard in the form of dolphins. The Sword of State's wooden scabbard is bound in crimson velvet with silver-gilt repoussé work and hung from
13965-466: The first reigning monarch to visit the castle since Charles II in 1651. In 1829, the cannon Mons Meg was returned from the Tower of London, where it had been taken as part of the process of disarming Scotland after "the '45", and the palace began to be opened up to visitors during the 1830s. St Margaret's Chapel was "rediscovered" in 1845, having been used as a store for many years. Works in the 1880s, funded by
14112-509: The first time any of the regalia had left Edinburgh Castle since 1822. During the Second World War , the Honours were hidden at the Castle owing to fears they might be lost if the UK fell to Germany. The crown and Stewart Jewels were buried under the floor of a water closet, while the sceptre, sword and wand were hidden inside a wall. The only officials who knew of the hiding places were George VI ,
14259-486: The following year, in a small room of the Palace at Edinburgh Castle, she gave birth to their son James , who would later be King of both Scotland and England. Mary's reign was, however, brought to an abrupt end. Three months after the murder of Darnley at Kirk o' Field in 1567, she married James Hepburn, 4th Earl of Bothwell , one of the chief murder suspects. A large proportion of the nobility rebelled, resulting ultimately in
14406-477: The garrison moved to the city's Redford Barracks. West of the Governor's House, a store for munitions was built in 1747–48 and later extended to form a courtyard, in which the main gunpowder magazine also stood. In 1897 the area was remodelled as a military hospital, formerly housed in the Great Hall. The building to the south of this courtyard is now the National War Museum of Scotland, which forms part of
14553-508: The garrison who resented Regent Arran came to Norham Castle and offered to let the English in. Refortification in 1548 included an earthen angle-bastion, known as the Spur, of the type known as trace italienne , one of the earliest examples in Britain. Brunstane Castle the home of the traitor Alexander Crichton was demolished to provide building materials. The Spur may have been designed by Migliorino Ubaldini , an Italian engineer from
14700-469: The gates from closing. A larger force hidden nearby rushed to join them and the castle was retaken. The 100 English men of the garrison were all killed. The 1357 Treaty of Berwick brought the Wars of Independence to a close. David II resumed his rule and set about rebuilding Edinburgh Castle which became his principal seat of government. David's Tower was begun around 1367, and was incomplete when David died at
14847-588: The grandson of James VII. The object is variously of English, French, Italian and Dutch origin, was altered several times, and measures 6.5 cm (2.6 in) by 4 cm (1.6 in). The Collar and the Great George of the Order of the Garter consist of an enamelled gold figure of Saint George , the patron saint of England, slaying a dragon made for Charles II in 1661 suspended from a gold collar made in 1685. The George
14994-522: The hospital building was eventually remodelled in 1897. Following the death of Prince Albert in 1861, the architect David Bryce put forward a proposal for a 50-metre (160 ft) keep as a memorial, but Queen Victoria objected and the scheme was not pursued. In 1905, responsibility for the castle was transferred from the War Office to the Office of Works , although the garrison remained until 1923, when
15141-563: The imprisonment and forced abdication of Mary at Lochleven Castle . She escaped and fled to England , but some of the nobility remained faithful to her cause. Edinburgh Castle was initially handed by its captain, James Balfour , to the Regent Moray , who had forced Mary's abdication and now held power in the name of the infant King James VI. Shortly after the Battle of Langside , in May 1568, Moray appointed Sir William Kirkcaldy of Grange Keeper of
15288-472: The locket, consisting of a large pearl surrounded by 30 diamonds; from which hangs the pear-shaped pendant, set with diamonds, emeralds and sapphires, having a relief depiction of the Galley of Lorne and the motto of Dukes of Argyll: NE OBLIVISCARIS, meaning "do not forget". A gold ampulla was crafted to hold the oil with which Charles I was anointed king at his Scottish coronation in 1633. The pear-shaped vessel
15435-472: The longest continuously occupied site in Scotland. However, the extent of the finds was not particularly significant and insufficient to draw any certain conclusions about the precise nature or scale of this earliest known phase of occupation. The archaeological evidence is more reliable concerning the Iron Age. Traditionally, it had been supposed that the tribes of central Scotland had made little or no use of
15582-626: The many wars in which Scottish soldiers have been involved. Beside the museum is Butts Battery, named after the archery butts (targets) formerly placed here. Below it are the Western Defences, where a postern , named the West Sally Port, gives access to the western slope of the rock. Honours of Scotland The Honours of Scotland ( Scots : Honours o Scotland , Scottish Gaelic : Seudan a' Chrùin Albannaich ), informally known as
15729-474: The most eminent and principal place of Scotland." James' successor, King Charles I , visited Edinburgh Castle only once, hosting a feast in the Great Hall and staying the night before his Scottish coronation in 1633. This was the last occasion that a reigning monarch resided in the castle. In 1639, in response to Charles' attempts to impose Episcopacy on the Scottish Church , civil war broke out between
15876-598: The museum was opened by Lord High Commissioner John Buchan on 23 May 1933 as the Scottish Naval and Military Museum. In 1949, recognising the importance of the Air Force to the war effort in World War II , the museum was renamed to the United Services Museum. The museum was refurbished in 2000, and upon reopening was renamed to its present name of the National War Museum. Edinburgh Castle Edinburgh Castle
16023-460: The negotiations, Edward stayed briefly at Edinburgh Castle and may have received homage there from the Scottish nobles. In March 1296, Edward I invaded Scotland, unleashing the First War of Scottish Independence . Edinburgh Castle soon came under English control, surrendering after a three-day-long bombardment. Following the siege, Edward had many Scottish legal records and royal treasures moved from
16170-459: The news. On 26 May 1819, the Honours went on public display in the Crown Room. They were guarded by two veterans of the Battle of Waterloo dressed in a Jacobean-style Yeoman's outfit. George IV was crowned king in 1821 and his visit to Scotland the following year was the first by a monarch since 1651. On 12 August 1822, the Honours were escorted in procession to the Palace of Holyroodhouse . There
16317-561: The north and west sides of the castle were built. These were designed by military engineer Captain John Romer , and built by the architect William Adam . They include the Argyle Battery, Mills Mount Battery, the Low Defences and the Western Defences. The last military action at the castle took place during the second Jacobite rising of 1745. The Jacobite army, under Charles Edward Stuart ("Bonnie Prince Charlie"), captured Edinburgh without
16464-627: The nucleus of the later palace block, and a Great Hall was in existence by 1458. In 1464, access to the castle was improved when the current approach road up the north-east side of the rock was created to allow easier movement of the royal artillery train in and out of the area now known as the Upper Ward. In 1479, Alexander Stewart, Duke of Albany , was imprisoned in David's Tower for plotting against his brother, King James III (r.1460–1488). He escaped by getting his guards drunk, and then lowering himself from
16611-524: The office of the Governor since the restoration of the post in 1936. South of the Governor's House is the New Barracks, completed in 1799 to house 600 soldiers, and replacing the outdated accommodation in the Great Hall. They now house the Regimental Headquarters of the Royal Regiment of Scotland and the Regimental Headquarters of the Royal Scots Dragoon Guards (Carabiniers and Greys) as well as
16758-402: The original crown, are surmounted by a gold monde – enamelled blue with stars representing the night sky. On top of the monde is a cross decorated with black enamel, pearls and a large amethyst . Originally, a purple velvet bonnet was manufactured by Thomas Arthur of Edinburgh. This was changed to a red bonnet by James VII , and the present bonnet dates from 1993. Four gold ornaments with
16905-682: The reason for it is not known. William Camden 's survey of Britain, Britannia (1607), records that "the Britans called [it] Castle Myned Agned [winged rock], the Scots, the Maidens Castle and the Virgins Castle, of certaine young maidens of the Picts roiall bloud who were kept there in old time". According to the 17th-century antiquarian Father Richard Hay, the "maidens" were a group of nuns, who were ejected from
17052-719: The regalia is still a mystery. Walter Scott thought it may have been carried before the Lord High Treasurer of Scotland . Although the Treasurer did have a mace it was a different shape. Four objects taken into exile by James VII after the Glorious Revolution in 1688 are also displayed: a locket, a Great George and collar, and a ruby ring. The Stewart Jewels were passed down in the Stuart family. They all returned to Britain 119 years later and were given to Edinburgh Castle on permanent loan by William IV in 1830. The St Andrew Jewel of
17199-464: The ridge slopes more gently. The defensive advantage of such a site is self-evident, but the geology of the rock also presents difficulties, since basalt is extremely impermeable. Providing water to the Upper Ward of the castle was problematic, and despite the sinking of a 34-metre (112 ft) deep well, the water supply often ran out during drought or siege, including during the Lang Siege in 1573. Archaeological investigation has yet to establish when
17346-543: The rock; that is around the area where St. Margaret's Chapel stands. This has been suggested that the chapel is the last remnant of a square, stone keep, which would have formed the bulk of the 12th-century fortification. The structure may have been similar to the keep of Carlisle Castle , which David I began after 1135. David's successor King Malcolm IV (r.1153–1165) reportedly stayed at Edinburgh more than at any other location. But in 1174, King William "the Lion" (r.1165–1214)
17493-460: The round Constable's Tower, which was destroyed in the siege. In 1584 the upper parts of the Gatehouse were completed by William Schaw , and these were further modified in 1750. In 1886–1887 this plain building was replaced with a Scots Baronial tower, designed by the architect Hippolyte Blanc , although the original Portcullis Gate remains below. The new structure was named the Argyle Tower, from
17640-521: The settlement and plantation of the new territory, the Baronetage of Nova Scotia was created in 1624. Under Scots law , baronets had to "take sasine " by symbolically receiving the earth and stone of the land of which they were baronet. To make this possible, since Nova Scotia was so distant, the King declared that sasine could be taken either in the new province or alternatively "at the castle of Edinburgh as
17787-555: The settlement in this period is inconclusive, but Driscoll and Yeoman suggest it may have been a broch , similar to the one at Edin's Hall near Duns in the Scottish Borders . The castle does not re-appear in contemporary historical records from the time of Ptolemy until around AD 600. Then, in the epic Welsh poem Y Gododdin there is a reference to Din Eidyn, "the stronghold of Eidyn ". This has been generally assumed to refer to
17934-425: The so-called "Black Dinner" had taken place in David's Tower, both boys were summarily executed on trumped-up charges in the presence of the 10-year-old King James II (r.1437–1460). Douglas' supporters subsequently besieged the castle, inflicting damage. Construction continued throughout this period, with the area now known as Crown Square being laid out over vaults in the 1430s. Royal apartments were built, forming
18081-453: The start of the Second War of Scottish Independence , and the English forces reoccupied and refortified Edinburgh Castle in 1335, holding it until 1341. This time, the Scottish assault was led by William Douglas, Lord of Liddesdale . Douglas's party disguised themselves as merchants from Leith bringing supplies to the garrison. Driving a cart into the entrance, they halted it there to prevent
18228-535: The status of the settlement during this period, although the midden deposits show no clear break since Roman times. The first documentary reference to a castle at Edinburgh is John of Fordun 's account of the death of King Malcolm III (1031–1093). Fordun describes his widow, the future Saint Margaret , as residing at the "Castle of Maidens" when she is brought news of his death in November 1093. Fordun's account goes on to relate how Margaret died of grief within days, and how Malcolm's brother Donald Bane laid siege to
18375-479: The summit of the rock. The second was a church, dedicated to St. Mary , which stood on the site of the Scottish National War Memorial. Given that the southern part of the Upper Ward (where Crown Square is now sited) was not suited to be built upon until the construction of the vaults in the 15th century, it seems probable that any earlier buildings would have been located towards the northern part of
18522-552: The sword was used at the installation of Knights of the Order of the Thistle , Scotland's highest Order of Chivalry. When the Stone of Scone was returned to Scotland in 1996 it was placed in the Crown Room alongside the Honours. During renovations in the 1990s, the Honours were temporarily stored at an anonymous bank in Edinburgh. The Crown of Scotland was present in May 1999 at the first sitting of
18669-400: The three-month siege. The castle was almost taken in the first Jacobite rising in support of James Stuart , the "Old Pretender", in 1715. On 8 September, just two days after the rising began, a party of around 100 Jacobite Highlanders, led by Lord Drummond , attempted to scale the walls with the assistance of members of the garrison. However, the rope ladder lowered by the castle sentries
18816-564: The town and castle of Edinburgh for Queen Mary, and against the new regent, the Earl of Lennox . The stand-off which followed was not resolved until two years later, and became known as the "Lang Siege", from the Scots word for "long". Hostilities began in May, with a month-long siege of the town, and a second short siege in October. Blockades and skirmishing continued meanwhile, and Grange continued to refortify
18963-591: The transport of cannon, leads upward and around to the north of the Half Moon Battery and the Forewall Battery, to the Portcullis Gate. In 1990, an alternative access was opened by digging a tunnel from the north of the esplanade to the north-west part of the castle, separating visitor traffic from service traffic. The Portcullis Gate was begun by the Regent Morton after the Lang Siege of 1571–73 to replace
19110-501: The tribe's hill forts in the area. The Orygynale Cronykil of Andrew of Wyntoun (c. 1350 – c. 1423), an early source for Scottish history , names "Ebrawce" ( Ebraucus ), a legendary King of the Britons , as having "byggyd [built] Edynburgh". According to the earlier chronicler, Geoffrey of Monmouth (c. 1100 – c. 1155), Ebraucus had fifty children by his twenty wives, and was the founder of "Kaerebrauc" ( York ), "Alclud" ( Dumbarton ) and
19257-529: The troops moved to Redford Barracks in south-west Edinburgh. The castle was again used as a prison during the First World War, when " Red Clydesider " David Kirkwood was confined in the military prison block, and during the Second World War, when downed German Luftwaffe pilots were captured. The position of Governor of Edinburgh Castle , vacant since 1876, was revived in 1935 as an honorary title for
19404-402: Was presented with the Honours on 5 July 2023 at a national service of thanksgiving in the same cathedral. A crown must have been made during the reign of Robert the Bruce or his son, David II , as David was anointed and crowned, as were all the subsequent Stewart kings, and it was probably this new crown that was remodelled into the current crown. It can be seen in its pre-1540 form in
19551-561: Was a carnival atmosphere, with people lining the streets and observing from windows. Three days later, the king arrived at the palace and symbolically touched the regalia. Before leaving the country a week later, he took part in a return procession to the Castle, where the Honours would remain until the 20th century. In 1911 the sword was carried before George V at the official opening of the Thistle Chapel in St Giles' Cathedral , Edinburgh –
19698-599: Was appointed "master melter of the king's guns". Their output included guns for the Scottish flagship, the " Great Michael ", and the "Seven Sisters", a set of cannons captured by the English at Flodden in 1513. Sir Thomas Howard, England's Lord Admiral, admired their graceful shape and brilliant finish, declaring them the most beautiful [cannon] for their size and length that he had ever seen. From 1510 Dutch craftsmen were also producing hand culverins , an early firearm . After Flodden, Borthwick continued his work, producing an unknown number of guns, but none have survived. He
19845-640: Was badly damaged and was demolished in the 1640s. The Royalist commander James Graham, 1st Marquis of Montrose , was imprisoned here after his capture in 1650. In May 1650, the Covenanters signed the Treaty of Breda , allying themselves with the exiled Charles II against the English Parliamentarians , who had executed his father the previous year. In response to the Scots proclaiming Charles King, Oliver Cromwell launched an invasion of Scotland, defeating
19992-615: Was besieged by the Angles under Oswald of Northumbria , and the Gododdin were defeated. The territory around Edinburgh then became part of the Kingdom of Northumbria , which was itself absorbed by England in the 10th century. Lothian became part of Scotland, during the reign of Indulf (r.954–962). The archaeological evidence for the period in question is based entirely on the analysis of middens (domestic refuse heaps), with no evidence of structures. Few conclusions can therefore be derived about
20139-431: Was brought to the castle for safety. Upon his death 25 years later, the crown passed to his week-old daughter, Mary, Queen of Scots . English invasions followed, as King Henry VIII attempted to force a dynastic marriage on Scotland. When the English burnt Edinburgh in May 1544 the gunner Andrew Mansioun firing from the castle destroyed an English cannon placed to bombard the forework. In 1547 disaffected members of
20286-532: Was captured by the English at the Battle of Alnwick . He was forced to sign the Treaty of Falaise to secure his release, in return for surrendering Edinburgh Castle, along with the castles of Berwick , Roxburgh and Stirling , to the English King, Henry II . The castle was occupied by the English for twelve years, until 1186, when it was returned to William as the dowry of his English bride, Ermengarde de Beaumont , who had been chosen for him by King Henry. By
20433-407: Was given permission to search the castle for the Crown of Scotland , believed lost after the union of Scotland and England in 1707. Breaking into a sealed room, now known as the Crown Room, and unlocking a chest within, he rediscovered the Honours of Scotland , which were then put on public display with an entry charge of one shilling . In 1822, King George IV made a visit to Edinburgh , becoming
20580-486: Was located here. The present Esplanade was laid out as a parade ground in 1753, and extended in 1845. It is upon this Esplanade that the Edinburgh Military Tattoo takes place annually. From the Esplanade the Half Moon Battery is prominent, with the Royal Palace to its left. The Gatehouse at the head of the Esplanade was built as an architecturally cosmetic addition to the castle in 1888. Statues of Robert
20727-422: Was made by Scottish artisans for the purpose, at a cost of £22,000. Alongside the crown, sceptre and sword, Walter Scott found a silver-gilt wand. It measures 1 metre (3.3 ft) in length and is topped with a faceted crystal monde surmounted by a cross. The wand has a wooden core and the unknown maker's initials F.G. The object's intended role – if it had one at all – has been forgotten, and its presence among
20874-425: Was made in 1539 for Mary of Guise , wife of James V , but it does not survive among the Honours. The Honours in their present form were first used together at the coronation of Mary, Queen of Scots in 1543. By the second half of the 16th century, they represented royal authority in the Scottish Parliament, and Acts of Parliament were given royal assent when the monarch (or their representatives) touched them with
21021-468: Was planned by Elizabeth Douglas, wife of Sir George Ogilvie, and Christian Fletcher , wife of James Granger, minister of Kinneff Parish Church. Two stories exist regarding the removal of the Honours. Fletcher stated in 1664 that over the course of three visits to the castle in February and March 1652, she carried away the crown, sceptre, sword and scabbard hidden amongst sacks of goods. Another account, given in
21168-492: Was remodelled and lengthened for James V in 1536 by the Edinburgh goldsmith Adam Leys, and is 86 cm (3 ft) long. The Sceptre consists of a handle attached to the bottom of a hexagonal rod, which is topped by a finial . The rod is engraved with grotesques , urns, leaves, thistles and fleurs-de-lis. The finial features stylised dolphins (symbols of the Church), and three figures under canopies. The three figures are
21315-406: Was resisted by the dolerite, which protected the softer rock to the east, leaving a crag and tail formation. The summit of the Castle Rock is 130 metres (430 ft) above sea level, with rocky cliffs to the south, west, and north, rising to a height of 80 metres (260 ft) above the surrounding landscape. This means that the only readily accessible route to the castle lies to the east, where
21462-492: Was succeeded by French smiths, who began manufacturing hagbuts (another type of firearm) in the 1550s, and by 1541 the castle had a stock of 413. Meanwhile, the royal family began to stay more frequently at the Abbey of Holyrood , about 1 mile (1.6 km) from the castle. Around the end of the fifteenth century, King James IV (r.1488–1513) built the Palace of Holyroodhouse , by the abbey, as his principal Edinburgh residence and
21609-411: Was too short, and the alarm was raised after a change of the watch. The Jacobites fled, while the deserters within the castle were hanged or flogged. In 1728, General Wade reported that the castle's defences were decayed and inadequate, and a major strengthening of the fortifications was carried out throughout the 1720s and 1730s. This was the period when most of the artillery defences and bastions on
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