Why is thistle the emblem of Scotland?
By Chelsie Vandaveer
March 4, 2003
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Autumn, 1263. The Vikings tenuously ruled the islands off the Scottish coast. King Haakon IV had a fleet of Viking longboats off the coast of Largs. No one is certain whether Haakon the Elder intended simply a show of power by raiding villages or a full scale invasion of Scotland. The power was with the sea; a tremendous storm drove many of his longboats ashore.
Scottish King Alexander III was tired of the years of Viking raids. He manned the castles along the western coast with soldiers. Guards kept watch for the Viking invasion. Some claim the Vikings went ashore only to retrieve the longboats, others say the Vikings intended to conquer Scotland.
The Vikings came ashore, quietly, barefoot, and in the dark of the night. Legend says a plant alerted the Scottish defenders. The Battle of Largs drove the Vikings from Scotland, Haakon died returning to Norway, a treaty returned the Hebrides to Scottish rule, and a marriage contract wedded Scotland and Norway.
In 1290, a seven-year-old princess boarded a ship bound for Scotland. Her mother, the Scottish Princess Margaret, was dead; her father, King Erik ruled Norway. Her destiny--consolidate Norse and Scottish relations as Queen of Scotland. But English King Edward intended another destiny for the little princess--immediate marriage to his son. Edward would finally rule over the Scots!
The little girl died of a mysterious fever as the ship sailed through the Orkney Islands.
With the death of little Princess Margareta Eriksdaughter, 'Maid of Norway', Scotland became entangled in wars for independence. English King Edward sent troops to Scotland backing John Balliol, a man Edward knew he could control. In 1314, Robert the Bruce of Celtic and Norman descent soundly defeated the English at the Battle of Bannockburn.
Freedom-fighter Robert ruled Scotland until his death in 1329. Scotland remained independent of England until King James VI of Scotland became King James I of England in 1603. Scotland adopted the plant that so many years before had announced the Viking invasion.
On that dark night in 1263, legend says the barefoot Vikings stepped on Scotch thistle (Onopordum acanthium Linnaeus) and cried out in pain for all Scotsmen to hear.
Scottish History Online has a great close-up photograph of Scottish thistle showing the vicious spines. To view the close-up, click on the link:
http://www.scotshistoryonline.co.uk/thistle/thistle.html
The medals.org.uk web site has a page showing the emblem of the Knights of St. Andrew or the Order of the Thistle. To view the emblem, click on the link:
http://www.medals.org.uk/united-kingdom/united-kingdom003.htm
Series: | 1 | | 2 |
killerPlants Tendrils: ~~1~~2~~3~~4~~5~~
Suggested Reading:
What plant colored a rebellion? Plants that Changed History - February 4, 2003
What was nettle cloth? Plants that Changed History - June 10, 2003
What is Harry Lauder's walking stick? What's in a Name? - March 11, 2005
What is the story of baby-blue-eyes? What's in a Name? - May 10, 2002
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