History of English-Scottish Rivalry

Historical Rivalry between England and Scotland

• In AD 122, Emperor Hadrian built Hadrian's Wall, separating England from the Caledonian tribes of Scotland that the Roman forces couldn't control.
• In 1072, William of Normandy invaded Scotland, defeated King Malcolm III, and forced him to hand over his son Duncan as a hostage.
• In 1296, King Edward I of England invaded Scotland, overthrowing King John, leading to William Wallace's uprising and the Battle of Stirling Bridge.
• William Wallace ruled Scotland as Guardian of the Realm until 1305, when he was captured and executed for treason by the English.

Battle of Bannockburn and Independence

• In 1314, Robert the Bruce defeated King Edward II of England at the Battle of Bannockburn, securing Scotland's independence.
• Scotland had to wait until 1328 for official English recognition, when King Edward III signed the Treaty of Northampton.

Later Clashes and Alliance

• In 1512, Scotland formed an alliance with France, and when Henry VIII attacked France, Scotland's King James IV invaded England, but was killed at the Battle of Flodden Field.
• In 1587, Mary, Queen of Scots was executed for treason on the orders of Queen Elizabeth I.

Union and Monarchy

• In 1603, King James VI of Scotland inherited the English crown, bringing the two countries together under one monarch.
• In 1707, the Act of Union brought the English and Scottish parliaments together, creating the new state of Great Britain.

Jacobite Rising and Highland Clearances

• In 1745, Bonnie Prince Charlie led a Jacobite army, which was initially successful but ultimately defeated at the Battle of Culloden by the English force led by the Duke of Cumberland.
• The English performed the Highland Clearances in the 18th and 19th centuries, evicting Scottish tenants to clear land for sheep, cattle, and mining.

Modern Politics and Football

• In 1872, the first official international football match was played between England and Scotland, ending 0-0.
• In 1934, the Scottish Nationalist Party (SNP) was formed.
• During Margaret Thatcher's tenure as Prime Minister, Scotland lost one-fifth of its workforce in the first two years, as state subsidies were pulled from the mining, steel, and textile industries.