You Can Call Me Pictland, or Caledonia, or Scotland

Scotland and its association with the city of Edinburgh are relatively "new developments."  Meaning, this country has surely undergone power shifts that inevitably altered its organization, structure, and name.  


It is quite clear that the Romans maintained a noticeable presence for years, and I have argued in another post that the Picts were so named because of Roman observations and writings.  More than likely, Roman influence allowed for more tightly-knit tribal unions that ultimately resulted in the expulsion of non-native peoples.  

Hmmm....a bit of a climb

The Picts - aka Caledonii - dominated throughout the Dark Ages, fiercely protecting their lands.  Although evidence suggests that for a time, at least, the Romans and Caledonii co-existed peacefully, they ultimately fought heated battles with one another and other groups,including the Angles - or the English.  As early as the mid-seventh century (takes you back a bit, no?) the Angles controlled massive amounts of territory in modern Scotland, including the south-east up to the Firth of Forth, and the small settlement then known as Dunedin, or Din Eidyn.  You might know this place by its other name: Edinburgh.  Din Eidyn is a Celtic term meaning "the hill fort of the sloping ridge."


A modern argument has emerged from this fact.  Does Scotland have its own language or heritage, or are these simply borrowed from other peoples?  Let me explain a bit further...For example, English, French, and German - as David Allan writes - denote people and language.  But Scots, although widely spoken, was called "Inglis" before 1500 and is a product of Anglo-Saxon influence.  And the Scots themselves, for whom the modern nation is named, hail from (possibly) the west Highlands and spoke a form of Gaelic.  Who are the Scots?  What is their language?  The wonders of history.  

Wheel...Of...Pistols!  

Regardless, the history is long and deep.  And certainly the castle looms large within this sometimes obscure, sometimes clear, history.  Home to kings and queens, hotly contested, site of murder and intrigue, births and deaths, and now a tourist destination (go early and when it rains...the lines are much shorter) a certain intimidation and ancient presence still emanate from the structure.   


There is a story that has been passed down through Scottish generations that I happened to overhear one evening whilst in a cozy pub.  James II (whom you will recall was born with a fiery mark on his face...some called him Scarface), having just received the rather large cannon Mons Meg as a gift, came under attack from the Scottish equivalent of the mob.  Apparently he owed someone money (this point is unclear, although everything else is true), and unsure what to do, he barricaded himself in his chambers - with Mons Meg.  As the Scottish mobsters stormed the castle, he burst open the doors to his room and yelled out in his best Al Pacino impression:

"Say hello, to my little friend!"