Iruni Kalupahana, JadeTimes Staff
I. Kalupahana is a Jadetimes news reporter covering Europe
A Royal Fortress
Edinburgh Castle, Scotland's symbolic past, looms over the city from its dominant position atop Castle Rock, a volcanic outcrop formed some 350 million years ago. This imposing fortress, 443 feet above sea level, has been a center of power for over a thousand years. Archaeological findings indicate human presence on Castle Rock dating back at least 3,000 years. The site was taken over by a Votadini hillfort built by a Celtic warrior people by 600 CE. Malcolm III Canmore (1058–1093) was the initial Scottish king who is known to have established his court at the castle. He made the kingdom secure by defeating Macbeth. Queen Margaret, wife of Malcolm, who later became St. Margaret of Scotland, helped spread Christianity throughout Scotland. The small but historically significant St. Margaret's Chapel, built between 1130 and 1140, is the oldest surviving structure in the castle and remains an active place of worship today.
Wars, Sieges, and Contests for Dominance
Edinburgh Castle has been the site of many wars, having been taken by Scots and English multiple times throughout its history. During the Scottish Wars of Independence, the castle was first captured by Edward I of England in 1296. In 1314, it was regained by Thomas Randolph, 1st Earl of Moray, in a daring night raid with a small force who climbed up the steep face of the rock in the dark. The castle was later rebuilt, but its defenses were tested constantly. The powerful David's Tower, constructed in memory of King David II, was a principal defensive aspect but was seriously damaged in a siege in the 16th century. Another enduring icon of the castle's military might is the massive cannon Mons Meg, gifted to James II of Scotland in 1457. The humongous bombard, capable of firing a 330 pound stone shot for two miles, was once used to besiege enemy fortifications. The Lang Siege (1571–1573), a brutal conflict between supporters of Mary, Queen of Scots, and those loyal to her infant son James VI, led to extensive damage, prompting the construction of the imposing Half-Moon Battery and the Portcullis Gate, which remain key features of the castle’s defenses today.
The Castle’s Role in Modern Warfare and Heritage
Edinburgh Castle’s military significance extended well beyond the medieval period. It played a role in the 17th-century Bishops' Wars (1639–1640), temporarily passing into the hands of Covenanter forces. It was later besieged in 1650 by Oliver Cromwell's troops during the English Civil Wars. The Jacobite risings of 1689 and 1745 saw efforts to seize the castle, but its defenses did not yield. Between 1757 and 1814, Edinburgh Castle was a notorious prison, where thousands of war prisoners like French, Spanish, and American soldiers were jailed. Some escaped in daring escapades, whereas others left their marks in graffiti in the dungeon of the castle that can be seen even now. The army heritage of the castle goes on with the Scottish National War Memorial, which opened in 1927 to remember those who died in World War I and following wars. Additionally, the National War Museum, established in 1933, showcases Scotland’s military history through artifacts, uniforms, and weaponry. The New Barracks, built in the late 18th century, remains an active military installation, making Edinburgh Castle one of the oldest continuously occupied fortresses in Europe.
A Treasured Landmark and Modern Attractions
Today, Edinburgh Castle is one of Scotland’s most visited attractions, drawing over 1.3 million visitors annually. It houses the Honours of Scotland, Britain's oldest crown jewels, which include a crown, scepter, and sword of state dating from the 15th and 16th centuries. The castle also houses the Stone of Scone, also referred to as the Stone of Destiny, on which Scottish monarchs were first crowned. Seized by King Edward I in 1296 and housed for centuries in Westminster Abbey, the stone was returned to Scotland in 1996 and is now situated in Edinburgh Castle along with the Honours of Scotland. The castle Esplanade hosts the world renowned Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo, an annual performance featuring military bands from around the world, played against the majestic setting of the castle. The second unique tradition is the One O'Clock Gun, a daily (except for Sundays, Good Friday, and Christmas Day) discharge of a cannon precisely at 1:00 pm. Originally started in 1861 to provide an accurate time signal for vessels transiting the Firth of Forth, the tradition persists as a popular show. A UNESCO World Heritage site since 1995, part of the Old and New Towns of Edinburgh, Edinburgh Castle remains a witness to Scotland's past, its power, and its heritage.
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