Edinburgh
Castle is situated on Castle Rock in the city of Edinburgh,
Scotland. Castle Rock formed after a volcano erupted over 340
million years ago. The first castle that existed on the rock was
known as “The Castle of the Maidens”. According to legend, the
castle had been a shrine to the “Nine Maidens”, one of whom was
Morgan le Fay.
Castle Rock had been a military base and royal residence for
centuries. However, the edifice that is known as Edinburgh Castle
was built during the 12th century by David I, son of Saint Margaret
of Scotland.
The tensions between the English and Scottish monarchies nearly
always centred on Edinburgh Castle. He who held the castle held
rule over the city of Edinburgh and, therefore, over all of
Scotland. Consequently, the castle was almost constantly under
siege.
The first major battle the castle witnessed was during the late 13th
century when Edward I of England attempted to seize the then vacant
Scottish throne. From 1296 to 1341, the castle bounced from English
to Scottish hands several times during the First and Second Wars of
Scottish Independence.
After the Wars of Independence, the castle was in great need of
repairs. Most of the construction was overseen by David II. In his
honour, David’s Tower was erected.
In 1571, English forces laid siege to the city of Edinburgh in an
attempt to capture Mary, Queen of Scots. The siege, which lasted for
two years, became known as the “long” or “Lang” siege. By February
of 1573, all of Mary’s supporters had surrendered to the English.
During the Lang Siege, David’s Tower was destroyed.
The castle, again, witnessed strife when, in 1650, Oliver Cromwell
executed Charles I and led an invasion of Scotland. In August of
that year, Edinburgh Castle fell into English hands.
During the Jacobite Risings (1688-1746), the Scots attempted,
several times, to recapture their castle. Unfortunately, they were
never able to overpower the English. The final attempt was in 1745
when the Jacobite army was led by Charles Edward Stuart (Bonnie
Prince Charlie). Although the Scots were able to capture the city,
they were never able to lay siege to the castle. In November of that
year, the Jacobites were forced to retreat.
From the late 18th century to the early 19th, Edinburgh Castle was
used to hold military prisoners from England’s many wars. The castle
became a national monument in 1814 after a mass prison break proved
that the castle could not hold prisoners. During the 19th and early
20th centuries, the castle was slowly restored. Military ceremonies
began to be held there and, in 1927, part of the castle was turned
into the Scottish National War Memorial.
Edinburgh Castle is now one of the most popular tourist attractions
in Scotland. The more than one million people who visit the castle
each year witness military ceremonies, historical re-enactments, and
can visit sites such as St. Margaret’s Chapel and the Great Hall of
King James IV.
Timeline
340 million B.C.E. – Castle Rock forms after volcanic eruption
900 B.C.E. – Castle Rock is inhabited by humans for the first time
638 C.E. – The city of Din Eidyn is captured by the English and
renamed Edinburgh
c. 1070 C.E. – Malcolm III marries an English princess later known
as Saint Margaret of Scotland
1130 C.E. – Margaret's son, David I, builds on Castle Rock the
edifice that is still standing to this day
1286 C.E. – Alexander III dies without a successor. Edward I of
England declares himself feudal overlord of Scotland
1296 C.E. – Edinburgh Castle is captured by the English under the
command of Edward I
1313 C.E. – Castle is recaptured by the Scots
1334 C.E. – Castle is, again, captured by the British
1341 C.E. – Castle is, once again, recaptured by the Scots
1356 C.E. – David II rebuilds the castle; David’s Tower is named in
his honor
1511 C.E. – James IV builds the great hall that can still be seen to
this day
1573 C.E. – The Lang Siege takes place and destroys David’s Tower
1578 C.E. – Castle is rebuilt
1633 C.E. – Charles I becomes the last Scottish monarch to inhabit
Edinburgh Castle
1650 C.E. – Oliver Cromwell executes Charles I and captures the
castle
1689 C.E. – Members of the first Jacobite Rising attempt, and fail,
to recapture the castle
1745 C.E. – Bonnie Prince Charlie and the members of the fifth
Jacobite Rising, once again, attempt and fail to recapture the
castle
1757 C.E. – Edinburgh Castle is turned into a prison and holds
thousands of military prisoners from the Seven Years War, the
American Revolution, and the Napoleonic Wars
1822 C.E. – George IV of England becomes the first ruling monarch to
visit the castle in nearly two hundred years
1927 C.E. – Part of the castle is turned into the Scottish National
War Memorial
1945 C.E. – Edinburgh Castle survives World War II
1999 C.E. – Edinburgh Castle becomes one of the most popular tourist
attractions in Scotland
Present Day – Edinburgh Castle has over one million visitors each
year
