Published in Scotland Magazine Issue 37 on 20/03/2008.

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The Stone of Destiny

James Irvine Robertson turns his attention to the most contested artefact in Scottish history.

Alongside the Honours of Scotland – the Scottish Crown Jewels – in Edinburgh Castle, lies a large chunk of red sandstone. On one surface is a roughly incised cross and rusting iron carrying-bolts are attached to it. For seven centuries it lay in Westminster Abbey, part of the Coronation Chair, built to contain it, and upon which every English and, later, British monarch has been crowned since Edward II in 1307.

Its origin lies in the darkest days of the Wars of Independence. Edward I, whose tomb bears the epitaph Malleus Scottorum – Hammer of the Scots – came north in 1296 to counter a rebellion by John Balliol, whom he installed as his vassal king in Scotland. Balliol had defied the English monarch, accusing him of having ‘caused harm beyond measure to the liberties of ourselves and our kingdom.’ In so doing, Balliol renounced fealty to Edward and made an alliance with Philip IV of France.

No Scots force existed that could counter Edward’s army. The King had already wasted Wales and incorporated it into England. Now he was intent on crushing the last vestiges of Scots resistance.

He sacked Berwick upon Tweed, slaughtering all 17,000 of its inhabitants. With the dead rotting in the streets, he summoned the barons of Scotland and forced them to sign the Ragman Roll acknowledging him as their feudal superior. Then his army rolled north, through Edinburgh, Stirling and Perth. At Montrose, Balliol was brought before him in chains. The Great Seal of Scotland was smashed; the re.....

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By James Irvine Robertson

Section : Scotland History

Page number : 40