Scottish Marches

Coordinates: 55°11′N 2°41′W / 55.183°N 2.683°W / 55.183; -2.683
Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
For the modern border between Scotland and England, see Anglo-Scottish border.

Regions of the Scottish marches

Scottish Marches was the term used for the

Early Modern era, characterised by violence and cross-border raids. The Scottish Marches era came to an end during the first decade of the 17th century following the union of the crowns of England and Scotland
.

History

Origins

Carlisle Castle, headquarters of the English Western March
Alnwick Castle, headquarters of the English Middle March
Lochmaben Castle, fortress of the Scottish Western March

The Marches were first conceived in a treaty between Henry III of England and Alexander III of Scotland in 1249 as an attempt to control the Anglo-Scottish border by providing a buffer zone.[1] On each side of the Anglo-Scottish border there was the West March, the Middle March and the East March. These regions nearly mirrored each other but there was some overlap between the Scottish and English regions. In the late 13th century Edward I of England appointed the first Lord Warden of the Marches, who was tasked with overseeing these regions and keeping their monarch's domain secure; when it was in their interests, they would encourage cross-border raiding, or even full-scale war.[2]

Especially in the Tudor period, some inhabitants of the Marches on either side of the border exhibited mixed national allegiances, and parts of the region were home to Riding Surnames or

James VI of Scotland (James I of England), the border clans would switch allegiance between the Scottish and English thrones depending on what was most favourable for the members of the clan. For a time, powerful local clans dominated a region on the border between England and Scotland, known as the Debatable Lands
, where neither monarch's writ was heeded.

During this era, the

protection money to ensure they were not attacked. These agreements were called black mal, from an Old Norse word mal meaning 'agreement'. The word blackmail entered the English language in 1530 as a result.[3]

The fluid nature of the border, and the frequent wars between Scotland and England, made the Marches fertile ground for many bandits and reivers who exploited the situation. The wardens of the Marches on either side of the border were entrusted with the difficult task of keeping the peace and punishing wrongdoers; the Scottish and English wardens would meet to co-ordinate their efforts against free-lance reivers at "days of march" (or "days of truce"), when they implemented March law, a kind of customary law agreed upon by the two realms during times of peace.[4]

The reiver period produced one unique architectural feature in the old reiver country—the

Sir Walter Scott
.

trace italienne) to secure the town against Scottish attack.[5]

17th century

The Scottish Marches era came to an end during the first decade of the 17th century with the creation of the

James VI of Scotland (James I of England).[6]

Notes

  1. ^ "The Office of Warden of the Marches;its Origin and Early History". Oxford Journals. Archived from the original on 13 July 2012. Retrieved 18 December 2011.
  2. ^ Pease 1912, pp. 190–192, 229.
  3. ^ Mikkelson, Barbara (26 April 2012). "Etymology of blackmail". Snopes. Retrieved 23 April 2012.
  4. ISBN 0748610731
    .
  5. ^ Berwick upon Tweed: The Historical Walled Town
  6. ^ Act anent fugitive persones of the borders to the in countrey (1609): Forsamekle as the kingis majestie is resolved to purge the mydele schyres of this isle, heirtofoir callit the bordouris of Scotland and England, of that barbarous crueltie, wickednes and incivilitie whilk be inveterat custome almaist wes become naturall to mony of the inhabitantis thairof... (Translated: Forasmuch as the king's majesty is resolved to purge the middle shires of this isle, heretofore called the borders of Scotland and England, of that barbarous cruelty, wickedness and incivility which by inveterate custom almost was become natural to many of the inhabitants thereof...)

References

See also

Further reading

55°11′N 2°41′W / 55.183°N 2.683°W / 55.183; -2.683

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