[Preview] Kingdom of Scotland

**Polycarpe** · May 21, 2012, 06:13 PM

Introduction to the faction Scotland. At least, that is what the Normans call the region that once was the proud Gaelic Kingdom of Alba. The current kingdom encompasses much of the same territory but is much more Anglo-Norman in nature. Under the long rule of thirty years of Alexander II, Scotland was able to challenge England on numerous occasions. With the threat of attack from Henry III of England blunted by the Baron’s Alliance, Alexander can now focus his attention on the Norse-Gael Lordship of the Isles.

Since its inception in the ninth century, the Kingdom of Alba/Scotland had been surrounded by competitors and rivals: to the west resided the Lordship of the Isles, to the north the Earldom of Orkney, and the south the Kingdom of Northumbria and eventually the Kingdom of England. With the Norman invasion of England in 1066, Scotland under Malcolm III found itself to be the home of Anglo-Saxon refugees and was even persuaded to support Saxon claims to the throne of England. William the Conqueror put an end to the invasions, but Scotland soon resurged again with the ascension of William Rufus to the English throne. The English monarch countered swiftly, killing the Scottish king in a border raid. The death of Malcolm led to a turbulent era in Scottish history, one where Norman landlords encroached on the lowlands and established a new Anglo-Norman regime in the Kingdom of Scotland. With the ascension of David I as king in 1124, who was backed by Henry I, Scotland and England became politically entangled for decades to come, intervening in the affairs of one another. Scotland, at least the lowlands, came to resemble its southern neighbor: dominated by a feudal class of knights. William I of Scotland, who backed Henry (son of Henry II Plantagenet) in the Revolt of 1173 against his father, led his kingdom to be occupied by Henry II and was forced to accept the English monarch as overlord. William was succeeded by Alexander II in 1215. The young ruler immediately set out against King John “Lackland” of England in support of the Baron Alliance, but left empty-handed when the Magna Carta was signed by the king and the rebelling barons. Establishing the southern border of Scotland in 1237 with the Treaty of York, Alexander went on to crush a rebellion in Galloway and head off an invasion of his kingdom by Henry III.

Alexander II and his wife, Marie de Coucy, gave birth to their only child, a son named Alexander, in 1241. The young child is the only heir to the throne if the king of Scotland was to perish.

Forming the backbone of the Scottish army was their famed spearmen. Both the regular and militia forces were drilled in the schiltrom formation, a circular formation with pikes bristling outward. The Scottish king is able to call upon elite archers of Ettick and Selkirk to provide his forces with ranged troops, but they excel in skirmish tactics rather than the mass volleys of the English/Welsh longbowmen. Forming the elite arm are the knights of the Scottish lowlands. Descendants of Norman landlords, they serve as heavy cavalry, smashing through the lines of Scotland’s enemies. While they may not be as well armed or armored as their English counterparts, the Lowland knights are able to match them in knightly élan and martial prowess. Forming the bulk of the army are the Ribauld, lower class rabble that served as light infantry.

If Alexander can unite the islands with mainland Scotland, perhaps he could finally face the English on equal terms and create a united kingdom of Britain. Before he can challenge the might of the Plantagenets, he first needs to subdue the Lordship of the Isles and the Earldom of Orkney, either through diplomacy or force of arms…

The Characters

The Banners

Scottish Lowland Armies
Familiers