For an American friend, who was wondering about the subject, I wrote this potted history of the various
wars between Scotland and England:
Various wars between the Scots and the English (and also civil war between different types of Scot) went on for around 800 years, on an off. Not continually - they would have all be knackered! The first major trouble between sides which could more or less be called specifically 'Scottish’ and ‘English’ was, as far as I know, in 943AD when Athelstan (seen as the first 'King of England’ ) invaded Scotland. It culminated in 937 at the Battle of Brunanburh. The Scot were joined by Danes/Norse on their side but Athelstan won, confirming his power over all of England. Though his authority over Scotland was not clearly established, it seems.
Various periods of 'argy-bargy' happened after that, like in 1054 when the Scottish King Macbeth (of Shakespeare fame) was defeated at Dunsinane by an English army that had lowland Scots help. Or in 1157, when Henry II of England forced the Scots out of areas of Northern England they had previously taken and established the border between Scotland and England along the Solway and Tweed area, which is pretty much where it is still today.
The time of William Wallace, that my friend mentioned, in the late 13thC was of the Scots trying to fend of the powerful English king, Edward the I, and his claim to be basically the boss of Scotland too - and Ireland and Wales and part of France and the Holy Land! Weren't greedy, was he? ('greedy' being, by the way, a Scots word). They managed, after about 30 years of trying, to assert their independence in 1320 and the Declaration of Arbroath. But the trouble would often boil up again. For example, the northern town of Berwick upon Tweed changed hands between Scotland and England 12 times! And was finally fixed as being in the English part in 1482. Although they may decide to change it a 13th time if the folk there fancy joining an independent Scotland! (which would give us the handy name of BUTIP - the Berwick upon Tweed Independence Party!).
Then in 1603 we had the Union of the Crowns where the Scottish King James VI became also James I of England. Get that - the Scottish king also became the king of England, not the other way around! But still, despite the crown being united, Scotland was an independent country until the act of political union in 1707. Many were not happy about that and the last battle between Scottish and English was almost 30 years after that, in 1745. Though, it appears that was as much a civil war as anything else.
So, now here we are in 2015 - with pressure building for a 2nd referendum and the very real prospect of Scotland becoming an independent country again. This time without a war, thank you very much!
wars between Scotland and England:
Various wars between the Scots and the English (and also civil war between different types of Scot) went on for around 800 years, on an off. Not continually - they would have all be knackered! The first major trouble between sides which could more or less be called specifically 'Scottish’ and ‘English’ was, as far as I know, in 943AD when Athelstan (seen as the first 'King of England’ ) invaded Scotland. It culminated in 937 at the Battle of Brunanburh. The Scot were joined by Danes/Norse on their side but Athelstan won, confirming his power over all of England. Though his authority over Scotland was not clearly established, it seems.
Various periods of 'argy-bargy' happened after that, like in 1054 when the Scottish King Macbeth (of Shakespeare fame) was defeated at Dunsinane by an English army that had lowland Scots help. Or in 1157, when Henry II of England forced the Scots out of areas of Northern England they had previously taken and established the border between Scotland and England along the Solway and Tweed area, which is pretty much where it is still today.
The time of William Wallace, that my friend mentioned, in the late 13thC was of the Scots trying to fend of the powerful English king, Edward the I, and his claim to be basically the boss of Scotland too - and Ireland and Wales and part of France and the Holy Land! Weren't greedy, was he? ('greedy' being, by the way, a Scots word). They managed, after about 30 years of trying, to assert their independence in 1320 and the Declaration of Arbroath. But the trouble would often boil up again. For example, the northern town of Berwick upon Tweed changed hands between Scotland and England 12 times! And was finally fixed as being in the English part in 1482. Although they may decide to change it a 13th time if the folk there fancy joining an independent Scotland! (which would give us the handy name of BUTIP - the Berwick upon Tweed Independence Party!).
Then in 1603 we had the Union of the Crowns where the Scottish King James VI became also James I of England. Get that - the Scottish king also became the king of England, not the other way around! But still, despite the crown being united, Scotland was an independent country until the act of political union in 1707. Many were not happy about that and the last battle between Scottish and English was almost 30 years after that, in 1745. Though, it appears that was as much a civil war as anything else.
So, now here we are in 2015 - with pressure building for a 2nd referendum and the very real prospect of Scotland becoming an independent country again. This time without a war, thank you very much!