History Series / AHistoryOfScotland

* HeroesWantRedHeads: Francois and [[UsefulNotes/MaryOfScotland Mary]]

* MineralMacGuffin: The Stone of Destiny, upon which Scottish monarchs were crowned. Taken by UsefulNotes/EdwardTheFirst to Westminster in 1296 as the spoils of war, it has been used in coronations right up until [[UsefulNotes/HMTheQueen Elizabeth II]] (and will be used beyond that). Stolen in 1950 and returned in 1951 ([[EpilepticTrees or a copy was returned]])[[note]]the thieves were never identified[[/note]], it finally came back to Scotland in 1996.

* AnAxeToGrind: UsefulNotes/RobertTheBruce famously killed a charging English knight at the Battle of Bannockburn with one blow of his battleaxe.

Running from November 2008 to November 2009, ''A History of Scotland'' was an ambitious documentary made by Creator/TheBBC exploring [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin the history of Scotland]]. Presented and narrated by author, broadcaster and archaeologist Neil Oliver, the series was first broadcast on BBC One Scotland and consisted of [[BritishBrevity ten]] sixty-minute episodes spread over two series.

* AnarchyIsChaos: The Highlands and Islands following the collapse of the [=MacDonald=] Lords.

* BritishBrevity: Just ten episodes in two series.

* TheChurch: The Scottish branches, of course, play a big role in Scotland's story.
* CivilWar: Several cases.
** The feud between The Stuart's and the [=MacDonald=]'s tended to become this.

** The same treatment was inflicted upon Robert the Bruce's brother by UsefulNotes/EdwardTheFirst.
* ConspiracyTheorist: James II had this going on over John [=MacDonald=] and William, The Black Douglas.

* DarkestHour: The treatment given to the situation after William Wallace's death in 1305.
* DealWithTheDevil: The Ragman Rolls and John Baliol accepting UsefulNotes/EdwardTheFirst as overlord.
* DeadGuyJunior: Several people are named after dead relatives and/or predecessors.

* TheEmpire: England are characterised this way during TheMiddleAges, mostly for dramatic effect.

** Constantine II then does with the Nordic king against Aethelstan, King of England.
** Alexander II later allied himself with the English nobles who penned the Magna Carta, against England's King John.

* GoldenAge: The reign of the [=MacDonald=] family as Lords of the Isles was this for Gaelic Scotland.
* GrimUpNorth: Scotland is often presented this way.
* GunboatDiplomacy: Alexander II marching an army all the way to Dover just to force Louis of France into a deal.
* GunNut: James II, leading to his DeathByIrony.

* HarmlessVillain: Edward II of England, at least when he took to the battlefield. Certainly in comparison with [[UsefulNotes/EdwardTheFirst his father]].

* TheHermit: Constantine II became one.

* HistoricalVillainUpgrade: [[DiscussedTrope Discussed]] and [[LampshadeHanging lampshaded]].
** Happens to various Englishmen. UsefulNotes/EdwardTheFirst especially.

* KillEmAll: Alexander II's approach to tackling disobedient lords.
** UsefulNotes/EdwardTheFirst's solution to Scotland's rebelliousness. At Berwick, for example.
** How Robert the Bruce tackled the rival Comyn family.

* LaResistance: The Scottish side is generally presented this way whenever conflicts with England are focused on.
** The Scots in the First War of Independence.
* LeftHanging: Episode Three ends with the five year old David II becoming King and England invading once again. Episode Four picks up years later, with King David having died and UsefulNotes/TheHouseOfStuart ascended to the throne.

* LongRangeFighter: UsefulNotes/EdwardTheFirst's Welsh Longbowmen at the Battle of Falkirk.
* LowCultureHighTech: The craftmanship skills of the Picts and Gaels.

* MakeAnExampleOfThem: The point behind Alexander II having a baby executed.

* MentorArchetype: Bishop Lamberton to Robert the Bruce.

* NobleSavage: How Tacitus seemed to view the Caledonians.
* OccupiersOutOfOurCountry: The way the First War of Independence plays out.
* OfferedTheCrown:
** Offered by UsefulNotes/EdwardTheFirst to John Baliol in exchange for Baliol accepting him as overlord. Then offered by Bishop Lamberton and Bishop Wishart to Robert the Bruce as a replacement for Baliol.
* OriginsEpisode: Episode One is effectively this for an entire country.
* OutsideContextProblem: The [[HornyVikings Vikings]] had this going on.
* ThePhilosopher: Dun Scotus, who proposed the idea of a kind-of ElectiveMonarchy.

* {{Precursors}}: The Picts are presented like this.

* ReluctantRuler: John Baliol, who ended up staying in France rather than trying to take up his rule.

** [[AvertedTrope Averted]] with John Baliol, who was content to hide out in France rather than try and resume his rule.

* TakingUpTheMantle: Robert the Bruce as the Scottish leader in the First War of Independence.

* TraumaCongaLine: Alexander III lost his wife and all three children in the space of nine years.

* WouldntHurtAChild: [[AvertedTrope averted]] by Alexander II.

--> UsefulNotes/{{Robert the Bruce}}'s 22-year struggle to secure the Scots' independence is one of the most important chapters in Scotland's story. Oliver explores the role the Scottish church played in promoting Robert Bruce, the propaganda campaigns, both at home and abroad, and how the 1320 Declaration of Arbroath persuaded UsefulNotes/ThePope to finally recognise Scotland as an independent nation.

* AnAxeToGrind: UsefulNotes/RoberttheBruce famously killed a charging English knight at the Battle of Bannockburn with one blow of his battleaxe.

--> UsefulNotes/RobertTheBruce's 22-year struggle to secure the Scots' independence is one of the most important chapters in Scotland's story. Oliver explores the role the Scottish church played in promoting Robert Bruce, the propaganda campaigns, both at home and abroad, and how the 1320 Declaration of Arbroath persuaded UsefulNotes/ThePope to finally recognise Scotland as an independent nation.

* AbdicateTheThrone: Constantine II did this voluntarily after fourty-two years as King, and went on to live in a cave as a holy man.

* RetiredBadass: Constantine II, after fourty-two years as King, retired to live in a cave as a holy man.

--> Neil Oliver continues his journey through Scotland's past with the story of the Covenanters, whose profound religious beliefs were declared in the National Covenant of 1638. This document licensed revolution, started the CivilWar that cost [[UsefulNotes/CharlesTheFirst King Charles I]] his head, cost tens of thousands of Scots their lives and led to Britain's first war on terror.

--> At one time, Gaelic Scotland - the people and the language - was central to the identity of Scots. But as Oliver reveals, Scotland's infamous Highland/Lowland divide was the result of a family struggle that divided the kingdom. This is the story of how the policies of the [[UsefulNotes/fTheHouseOfStuart Stewart royal family]] in the 15th century led to the Gaels being perceived as rebels and outsiders.

Running from November 2008 to November 2009, ''A History of Scotland'' was an ambitious documentary made by Creator/TheBBC exploring the history of Scotland. Presented and narrated by author, broadcaster and archaeologist Neil Oliver, the series was first broadcast on BBC One Scotland and consisted of [[BritishBrevity ten]] sixty-minute episodes spread over two series.

Running from November 2008 to November 2009, '''A History Of Scotland''' was an ambitious documentary made by Creator/TheBBC exploring the history of Scotland. Presented and narrated by author, broadcaster and archaeologist Neil Oliver, the series was first broadcast on BBC One Scotland and consisted of [[BritishBrevity ten]] sixty-minute episodes spread over two series.

Consisting of shots of the presenter strolling dramatically across Scotland's beautiful natural landscape, historical reconstructions to accompany Neil Oliver's narration and a [[AwesomeMusic kick-ass original musical score]] by Music/JamesNewtonHoward, the series aspired to add a sense of drama and romance to the show rather than create another dry, matter-of-fact history lecture. Whether this adds to the experience or detracts from the show's capacity to educate the viewer is a matter for the viewer.

Consisting of shots of the presenter strolling dramatically across Scotland's beautiful natural landscape, historical reconstructions to accompany Neil Oliver's narration and a [[AwesomeMusic kick-ass original musical score]] by James Newton-Howard, the series aspired to add a sense of drama and romance to the show rather than create another dry, matter-of-fact history lecture. Whether this adds to the experience or detracts from the show's capacity to educate the viewer is a matter for the viewer.

%% commented out as ZeroContextExample * TheAce: William, Earl of Douglas.

%% commented out as ZeroContextExample * AnAesop: About the division between Highland and Lowland Scotland in Episode Four.

%% commented out as ZeroContextExample * ArchEnemy: England and Scotland are presented as being this towards each other.
%% commented out as ZeroContextExample ** UsefulNotes/EdwardTheFirst and William Wallace.

%% commented out as ZeroContextExample * AsLongAsThereIsOneMan: The Declaration of Arbroath.

%% commented out as ZeroContextExample * BloodKnight: Alexander II
%% commented out as ZeroContextExample ** UsefulNotes/EdwardTheFirst

%% commented out as ZeroContextExample * EarnYourHappyEnding: Robert the Bruce.

%% commented out as ZeroContextExample * ForTheEvulz: UsefulNotes/EdwardTheFirst's use of [[SiegeEngines the trebuchet "Warwolf"]]

%% commented out as ZeroContextExample * HairTriggerTemper: James II
%% commented out as ZeroContextExample * HappilyAdopted: UsefulNotes/MaryOfScotland with the French royal family.

%% commented out as ZeroContextExample * TheHighMiddleAges

%% commented out as ZeroContextExample * HornyVikings

%% commented out as ZeroContextExample * InMediasRes: "Project Britain"

%% commented out as ZeroContextExample * {{Jerkass}}: James I, at best.

%% commented out as ZeroContextExample * KangarooCourt: William Wallace's trial in Westminster Hall.

%% commented out as ZeroContextExample * KnightTemplar: Widespread during the Protestant Reformation.
%% commented out as ZeroContextExample * TheLateMiddleAges
%% commented out as ZeroContextExample * TheLancer: James Douglas to Robert the Bruce.
%% commented out as ZeroContextExample * LargeAndInCharge: UsefulNotes/EdwardTheFirst.

%% cont., commented out as ZeroContextExample ** UsefulNotes/MaryOfScotland to Henry VIII

%% commented out as ZeroContextExample * TheLowMiddleAges: Episode One.

%% commented out as ZeroContextExample * NobleFugitive: Robert the Bruce in hiding.
%% commented out as ZeroContextExample ** UsefulNotes/MaryOfScotland

%% commented out as ZeroContextExample * ProperlyParanoid: James II and William, The Black Douglas towards each other.
%% commented out as ZeroContextExample * PrinceCharming: James IV.

%% commented out as ZeroContextExample * RapePillageAndBurn

%% commented out as ZeroContextExample * TheRevolutionWillNotBeCivilized: Frequently.

%% commented out as ZeroContextExample * RoyalBlood
%% commented out as ZeroContextExample * RoyalsWhoActuallyDoSomething.

%% commented out as ZeroContextExample * TheStarscream: Giric to Aed.

%% commented out as ZeroContextExample * TyrantTakesTheHelm: James I.

%% commented out as ZeroContextExample * WarriorPrince: Many of them.
%% commented out as ZeroContextExample ** Alexander II
%% commented out as ZeroContextExample ** UsefulNotes/EdwardTheFirst
%% commented out as ZeroContextExample ** Robert the Bruce
%% commented out as ZeroContextExample * WeAREStrugglingTogether: Frequently occurs.

%% commented out as ZeroContextExample, ExamplesAreNotArguable * BarbarianHero: Calgacus looks like this.

* TheLawsAndCustomsOfWar: St Columba helped set down some of the first, banning the killing of women, children and monks in times of war. No one listened, of course, but the effort was there.

%% commented out as ZeroContextExample * {{Badass}}: William Wallace.

%% commented out as ZeroContextExample * KnightFever

* OutsideContextVillain: The [[HornyVikings Vikings]] had this going on.

* InItsHourOfNeed: William Wallace emerging as a leader of [[LaResistance the Scottish rebels]].
** Robert the Bruce when TakingUpTheMantle after Wallace.

* FounderOfTheKingdom: Not really one particular person ([[PopularKnowledge in spite of what is commonly thought about Kenneth I]]) but Constantine II gets credit for being the first to be known as the King of Scotland.

* FounderOfTheKingdom: Not really one particular person ([[HistoryMarchesOn in spite of what is commonly thought about Kenneth I]]) but Constantine II gets credit for being the first to be known as the King of Scotland.