Do
you know the movie featuring Mel Gibson “Braveheart”?
If you have watched this movie, you can see some parts of Scotland and its history related to British conquest. In the movie,
Scotland has successfully defended the country with a great nationalism spirit.
The spirit has become the most powerful defense to take over the freedom.
Centuries before the British conquest in this land, Scotland’s history has
begun from Roman Empire conquest, although the Empire did not really conquer
Scotland, particularly Caledonia. While the ancestors of Scottish were mainly
from Scandinavian, Vikings, as nomads they began
migrating to the land approximately 800AD. Since their settlement in the West
of Scotland, the Kingdom of Alba built by the Picts. The Kingdom became the
first ruler that implied feudal system. Macbeth was the first King in the early
era of Scottish Kingdom.
Battle for Freedom from England
As
the fighting to get freedom from British colonial began its conquest there,
many British rulers have ruled the country and caused horrors, but in another hand, they triggered a great
nationalism spirit. One of the most popular Scotland heroes recorded in
Scotland history is William Wallace who fought against the British Kingdom was filmed by Hollywood
featuring Mel Gibson. If he fought against King Edward I in 13th,
his struggle then continued by Robert the Bruce. His successful fighting to get
freedom from England in the 14th
century made him became the first crowned King for Scotland. Many historical
experts believe that the Scotland movement has inspired United Nations
Declaration of Independence. His crown as the first Scotland King is well known
as Declaration of Arbroath.
Union
of Crowns
In the early stages of Scotland ruling, there
were many political problems due to British power remains. The monarch system
made chaotic problems in the crown hassle. Mary the Queen is the real fact that
shows us how a young crowned queen was powerless to face many powerful people
around her who abused power to be the King. The Renaissance has promoted big
changes in Scotland in the late 15th century in many aspects of life
including politic. There was an idea to create Union of Crowns. Once again,
Scotland and its history had strong relation even hand in hand with British
history. The idea made it get closer to England. The Act of Union made a
consequence in giving Scotland a single Parliament of the United Kingdom at the
Palace of Westminster. In another hand, this idea of merging Scotland in
the Union led to other consequences; other battles against British power then
began. The Battle of Culloden that only took for one hour in fighting against
British army is another proof that Scotland has tried hard to be independent
land for centuries. The Act also promoted one single national language that is
English, and, therefore, any other spoken
languages used in Scotland in the era were forbidden. Thus, Highland Clearance
was also about clearing the people of Highland or namely Highlanders from
speaking Gaelic. A set of laws was
implied to realize the idea of Union Act. There are two important phases of
Scottish history in fighting against British power and maintaining its
independence.
