In Focus - Discover Scotland: Experience the Best of Scotland - page 603

finally turned against him and allied Scotland with France in 1295, thus beginning the en-
during ' Auld Alliance' and ushering in the Wars of Independence.
Edward's response was bloody. In 1296 he invaded Scotland and Balliol was incarcer-
ated in the Tower of London; in a final blow to Scots pride, Edward I removed the Stone
of Destiny from Scone and took it back to London.
Enter arguably Scotland's most tragic hero, William Wallace. Bands of rebels were at-
tacking the English occupiers and one such band, led by Wallace, defeated the English
army at the Battle of Stirling Bridge in 1297. After Wallace was executed, Robert the
Bruce, grandson of the lord of Annandale, saw his chance, defied Edward (whom he had
previously aligned himself with), murdered his rival John Comyn and had himself
crowned king of Scotland at Scone in 1306. Bruce mounted a campaign to drive the Eng-
lish out of Scotland but suffered repeated defeats.
The Declaration of Arbroath
During the Wars of Independence, Scottish nobles sent a letter to Pope John XXII requesting his support. Written by
the abbot of Arbroath in 1320, it is the earliest document that seeks to place limits on royal power.
After railing against the tyranny of Edward I of England, the declaration famously states: 'For so long as a hun-
dred of us remain alive, we will yield in no least way to English dominion. For we fight, not for glory nor for riches
nor for honours, but only and alone for freedom, which no good man surrenders but with his life.'
According to legend, while Bruce was on the run he was inspired to renew his efforts
by a spider's persistence in spinning its web - he went on to secure an illustrious victory
over the English at Bannockburn in 1314, now enshrined in Scottish legend.
Mary, Queen of Scots
Mary, daughter of King James V, was born at Linlithgow Palace in 1542, and inherited the
throne as Queen of Scots at the tender age of six days. She was sent to France at an early
age while Scotland was ruled by regents, and in 1558 she was married to the French
dauphin and became queen of France as well as Scotland.
Following the death of her sickly husband, the 18-year-old Mary returned to Scotland in
1561. She was formally welcomed to her capital city and held a famous audience at Ho-