February 1, 2019 Comments Off on Iconic Scottish sites: The Edinburgh Castle Views: 953 Urban Trekker

Once upon a time, when the world was run by kings and queens, the Edinburgh Castle made home to a lineage of Scottish reigning monarchs. Besides its unbreakable link with the royal family, the castle has additionally served as a prison, as well as it has been used by the army over its centuries-long history.

According to archeologists, the earliest settlers on Castle Rock–the remnant of an ancient extinct volcano from where the Edinburgh Castle towers today–arrived there during the ninth century B.C. The evidence left behind from this period includes pottery shards, bronze artifacts and broaches. Castle Rock has probably been the longest inhabited location in whole Scotland.

Half Moon Battery and Palace Block, Edinburgh Castle, Photo: Kim Traynor, CC BY-SA 3.0

Accordingly, St. Margaret Chapel, the structure that is now an integral part of the Edinburgh Castle, is further noted as the earliest known building in Scotland. In fact, the chapel revives the memory of the first royal family to use the site as a royal residence.

Queen Margaret came as an English princess and was wedded to Malcolm III Canmore, who served as the king of Scotland from 1058 until 1093 A.D. It is said when the king lost his life in a battle, his wife, Margaret died out of sadness and grief only a couple of days later.

She was remembered for her goodwill to help people and was eventually canonized as St. Margaret of Scotland. The construction of the St. Margaret Chapel during the first half of the 12th century, was dedicated in her memory–an effort initiated by David I, Margaret’s son.

Braun & Hogenberg – Detail of Edinburgh, scanned from a reproduction of ‘Civitates orbis terrarum’, c.1581

When the castle site was brutally sieged and pillaged in 1314 by Robert the Bruce, the chapel was the only structure left untouched, sealing its standing as Scotland’s oldest.

While there is clarity about these early episodes concerning the Scottish royal family, it is less clear what name was used for whatever was up there on Castle Rock. Instead of Edinburgh Castle, the name could have been Maiden’s Castle, or the Virgins Castle, or perhaps something entirely different. Who exactly founded the stronghold is also a bit of mystery.

St Margaret’s Chapel, Edinburgh Castle, Photo: Jonathan Oldenbuck, CC BY-SA 3.0



According to various accounts of the Middle Ages, including the Orygynale Cronykil, an early source on Scottish history penned by writer Andrew of Wyntoun (c. 1350 – c. 1423), the Edinburgh Castle was initially known as the Maiden’s Castle. The same source namely attributes the legendary King of the Britons, Ebraucus, as the castle founder.

Another chronicle, left by 16th-century Italian scholar Polydore Vergil also claims that Ebraucus built “the town of Maidens, now called Edinburgh Castle, being planted in the uttermost part of Britain, now called Scotland.”

Edinburgh Castle from Portsburgh, the area of the city now called the West Port. Before the draining of the loch on its northern side, this would have been the most familiar view of the Castle for the citizens of Edinburgh. The parts seen here are (right to left) the Half Moon Battery, the Palace Block, the Great Hall and the Queen Anne Building, Photo:

Kim Traynor, CC BY-SA 3.0

The first structures might have been there as early as the late 10th century A.D., according to other sources. One belief, that was eventually put aside by historians as “apocryphal”, says that the “maidens” could have been nuns. As early tenants on the castle site, they were later expelled from there, but the name stuck for a while.

The name may also originate from the “Cult of the nine Maidens” legend. As this Arthurian story goes, the site used to be a shrine which belonged to one of the nine sisters, Morgan le Fay, the powerful sorcerer who is associated with King Arthur himself. But can you entirely believe a legend ?

As a designation, “Maiden’s Castle” is noticeable on documents that came out from the Scottish royal residence, but as the usage of this name obviously died out, many questions remain without a full explanation.

Edinburgh Castle as seen from the North, Kim Traynor, CC BY-SA 3.0

Today, the Edinburgh Castle is greatly preserved as a museum. A noted tourist attraction, without it, it is hard to imagine the skyline of Edinburgh. Besides St. Margaret Chapel, visitors also head to see Mons Meg, the prominent cannon which was installed on its spot during the mid-15th-century. Another gem, the Great Hall, was constructed in 1511 under James IV. It was utilized as a main hall that gathered the state assembly in the castle.

Close to the Great Hall is the Royal Palace, the place where James VI, or the future King James I of England was born on 19 June 1566. Few years after his birth, both the Portcullis Gate and the Half-Moon Battery were added to the stronghold complex as its vital new defensive features.



Soldiers of the Edinburgh Castle garrison by David Octavius Hill c.1845

From the 11th until the first half of the 17th century, Edinburgh Castle accommodated the royal family. During this era, it became an ultimate defense point in the city of Edinburgh, which is why the site also claims the honorable title “defender of the nation.”

During the American War of Independence, fought between Great Britain and the colonies which wanted independence, the Edinburgh Castle was used as a prison. Over thousands of prisoners of war were brought here. More from the castle’s prison days: at least 20 pirates were also imprisoned there, and later charged for crimes concerning piracy, thus sent to the gallows.

Last but not least, at least one goof is noted in the abundant lore surrounding Edinburgh Castle: that time when Scotland’s crown jewels ended mysteriously lost somewhere around the castle. This happened after the unification of the crowns on the islands, and the jewels–Honours of Scotland–remained locked in a box as there were no longer need of it. Somehow, royal attendants forgotten where the box was stored. For a century!

The Royal Palace in Crown Square, Photo: Christian Bickel, CC BY-SA 2.0 de

Finally, the jewels were found in 1818, after a thorough search mission in which the famed Scottish writer Sir Walter Scott himself also participated. Ever since the jewels have been on display and can be seen by castle visitors, among other priceless relics.

With so many pieces of history attached to this ancient corner of Edinburgh, it is no wonder why flocks of tourists rush in each year to see the castle and marvel at its beauty and history.

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Tags: castles, Scotland, wonders of the world