Edinburgh Castle a beautiful monument to class, wealth, and power gained its origins in 600 BC when the Celtic tribe called the Votadini built Ediyn’s Hill Fort on Castle Rock. Castle Rock is a volcanic plug that was formed approximately 340 million years ago and is now the resting place of Edinburgh Castle (2012). It was in the 11th century that Castle Rock would house the first king of Scotland Malcolm III Canmore (1058-1093). It wasn’t until the reign of David I (Son of Malcolm III) that we see the constriction of the modern day Edinburgh Castle. Architecturally, the first and oldest monument on Castle Rock is The St. Margaret’s Chapel built between 1130-40 in honor of Malcolm III wife Margaret (Lewis 2017). Due its minor destruction in the 12th century, David II reestablished the architecture of the Edinburgh Castle which resulted in the erection of David’s Tower. This tower named in honor of David was later destroyed in the 16th century during the Lang Siege (2012). The Great Hall located in the center of Castle Edinburgh survived the destruction of David’s tower and was completed by James IV in 1511. Juxtaposed to the Great Hall, the Royal Palace resided which would witness the birth of King James I in 1566. Subsequently, it was in the 17th century that the Castle would host Charles I who was the last royal to ever sleep in the Castle.
Over the centuries, Edinburgh Castle would witness many battles such as the Bishops War ( 1639-40), Cromwell’s New Model Army (1650) and the Jacobite rebellion. This castle would also house prisoners from the Seven Years War, American Revolution, and the Napoleonic wars. It was in 1927 that a memorial was erected in honor of Scottish Soldiers and in 1933 that the National War Museum was opened. In the present day, Edinburgh Castle was inducted into the UNESCO World Heritage Site. Its grounds hosts Military and cultural festivals and attracts about 1 million visitors a year. Edinburgh Castle stands as a monument to Scottish History and excellence that will forever be remembered by those who are near and far.
Edinburgh Castle. 2012, www.edinburghcastle.co.uk/history/.
Edinburgh Castle. Historic Environment Scotland, www.edinburghcastle.scot/.
Lewis, Robert. “Edinburgh Castle.” Britannica, 2017.
