Edinburgh Castle, situated on Castle Rock in Edinburgh, Scotland, has a rich and complex history spanning over 2,000 years. This detailed timeline explores the key events and milestones that have shaped the castle’s remarkable past.
Ancient Period (900 BCE – 638 CE)
| Year | Event |
|---|---|
| 900 BCE | Castle Rock is artificially flattened. |
| c. 100 CE | A hilltop fort is built on Castle Rock. |
| c. 600 CE | The first literary reference to Edinburgh Castle is made. |
Medieval Period (638 – 1513 CE)
- 638 CE: The city of Din Eidyn is captured by the English and renamed Edinburgh.
- c. 1070 CE: Malcolm III marries an English princess, later known as Saint Margaret of Scotland.
- 1130 CE: Margaret’s son, David I, builds St. Margaret’s Chapel on Castle Rock.
- 1174 – 1186 CE: An English garrison controls Edinburgh Castle.
- 1296 CE: Edward I of England captures Edinburgh Castle.
- 1313 CE: The Scots recapture the castle.
- 1314 CE: Thomas Randolph, Earl of Moray, retakes the castle for Scotland.
- 1314 CE: Robert the Bruce demolishes Edinburgh Castle.
- 1335 CE: An English force captures the ruins of Edinburgh Castle.
- 1341 CE: Sir William Douglas leads a force that captures Edinburgh Castle for Scotland.
- 22 Feb 1371 CE: David II of Scotland dies in Edinburgh Castle.
- c. 1375 CE: David’s Tower is completed at Edinburgh Castle.
- 1440 CE: The ‘Black Dinner’ takes place in Edinburgh Castle, where James II of Scotland invites the young Douglas.
Renaissance and Wars of Independence (1513 – 1603 CE)
- 1511 CE: James IV builds the Great Hall.
- 1513 CE: James IV dies at the Battle of Flodden.
- 1543 CE: The Honours of Scotland are first used together for the coronation of Mary Queen of Scots.
- 1566 CE: Mary Queen of Scots gives birth to James VI in the Royal Palace.
- 1573 CE: The Lang Siege takes place, destroying David’s Tower.
- 1578 CE: The castle is rebuilt.
- 1633 CE: Charles I becomes the last Scottish monarch to inhabit Edinburgh Castle.
Jacobite Risings and British Rule (1603 – 1745 CE)
- 1650 CE: Oliver Cromwell executes Charles I and captures the castle.
- 1689 CE: Members of the first Jacobite Rising attempt to recapture the castle but fail.
- 1745 CE: Bonnie Prince Charlie and the members of the fifth Jacobite Rising attempt to recapture the castle but fail.
19th and 20th Centuries (1757 – 1999 CE)
- 1757 CE: Edinburgh Castle is turned into a prison and holds thousands of military prisoners.
- 1811 CE: A mass prison break persuades the authorities to stop using the castle as a prison.
- 1814 CE: The castle becomes a national monument.
- 1822 CE: George IV of England becomes the first ruling monarch to visit the castle in nearly two hundred years.
- 1829 CE: Mons Meg is returned from the Tower of London.
- 1845 CE: St. Margaret’s Chapel is rediscovered.
- 1888 CE: A new Gatehouse is built.
- 1905 CE: Responsibility for the castle is transferred from the War Office to the Office of Works.
- 1923 CE: The Army formally moves to Redford Barracks.
- 1927 CE: Part of the castle is turned into the Scottish National War Memorial.
- 1945 CE: Edinburgh Castle survives World War II.
- 1999 CE: Edinburgh Castle becomes one of the most popular tourist attractions in Scotland.
Present Day (2000 CE – present)
- 2019 CE: Edinburgh Castle remains the most popular paid visitor attraction in Scotland, with over 2.2 million visitors.
Edinburgh Castle’s timeline is a captivating journey through Scotland’s history, showcasing the castle’s evolution from an ancient hilltop fort to a renowned national monument and popular tourist destination. This comprehensive timeline provides a detailed account of the significant events and milestones that have shaped the castle’s remarkable past.
Reference:
– Edinburgh Castle History
– Timeline of Edinburgh Castle