The History of Scotland Magazine

The word “clann” comes from the Gaelic and means children, and its members claimed kinship from the common ancestor whose name they bore, and even the poorest clansman considered themselves of nobler birth than any southerner.

An essential piece of Highland dress to accompany a Scotsman’s kilt is the ornately decorated pouch that hangs down the front, commonly referred to as the sporran. But where did the sporran originate and what was its purpose?

In Victorian times, people were enthralled by the novels of Sir Walter Scott, who portrayed a man called Rob Roy in one of his stories… a dashing and chivalrous outlaw. The truth was a little less glamorous, of course.

There are two men whose names were a clarion call to all Scots. Robert the Bruce, who took up arms against both Edward I and Edward II and united the Highlands and Lowlands in a fierce battle for liberty: and a humble Lowland knight, Sir William Wallace.

The story of Burke and Hare, infamous grave-robbers and murderers in 19th century Edinburgh.

Five Hollywood films have featured a character known as Hannibal Lecter, otherwise known as Hannibal the Cannibal. If legend is to be believed, when compared with the exploits of Sawney Bean, it may be more appropriate to call him Hannibal the pussycat!

Travellers to Scotland over the past several hundred years have noted the Tartan worn by its inhabitants. Referred to as ‘mottled’, ‘marled’ and…

Brochs are mysterious features of Scottish archaeology. These two thousand year old stone structures date from the Iron Age, and it is estimated that at least seven hundred brochs once existed across Scotland.