Ancient history
Early written history of Scotland as an independent region of Britain is limited for many reasons.
Firstly the geography of Scotland and the sparcity of population made it a hard living. Like the crofters of today many of the ancient inhabitants were solitary or small groups, often of hunter gatherers moving with the seasons and using temporary shelters and leaving little or no lasting foot print or record of their activities. Ancient woodland covered at least 60% of the land around 5000 years ago allowing a host of wild animals and man a place to live and shelter,
Prehistoric Scotland in known to have entered the Neolithic era around 4000b.c., then the Bronze age around 2000b.c. and the Iron age around 700b.c. and the Romans came in about 100a.d..
Some of the ancient peoples gave up their hunter gatherer lifestyle and settled in small communities building bothies and crofts. The days were long and the work wasn’t easy but the supply of wood allowed for basic homes, fences, tools and fire wood. As families grew small communities developed and leadership developed within each family grouping until clans formed from extended family connections. They spread out into different parts of Scotland and so different clans took over different areas and became distinct from each other from the colours of the fabrics woven by the women, and dependent on the dyes available from local plants. The Venerable Bede made references to the Kaltis, or Picts having come from Europe. He states they came to Ireland first asking for land but were redirected to Scotland.
These tribal groups continued until around 100 a.d. when the Romans invaded Britain, landing at various points but spreading quickly in surrounding areas until the Romans moved northward. The Romans spread out overcoming local communities as they went, until they reached the area between what is now known as England and Scotland, in the border regions.
The Scottish clans of both the Eastern and Northern regions joined forces, unifying to oppose the Romans, and called themselves the Kaltis. The Kaltis later became known as the Picti by the Romans due to their painted faces, coloured from local vegetable dyes or Woad
The peoples of the Western and Southern areas called themselves Gaels and many were derived from Ireland. Together these celtic clans retained their own identities until the Kaltis were converted to Chritianity, they then took Picts as their name upon conversion, as named by the Romans due to their painted faces.
These early Scottish people began raids to oppose the Roman armies and it is recorded that the blue stain of the Picts bodies and tattoos made them a ferocious and terrifying people to contend with.
Rome finally gave up its attempt to take Northern Scotland after building the now famous Hadrians wall to divide England from Scotland and limit the attempt by the Picts to disrupt the Roman armies and its communities.
The Antonine wall was built in 142a.d. , northwards of the Hadrians wall, between the River Firth and River Clyde. It took 2 years to construct, had 19 forts along its length and served as a frontier to stop the raids from the Caledonian tribes of Northern Scotland and allow the tribes between the walls to become a buffer after reaching an understanding. The Antonine wall was abandoned after 8 years and the Romans retreated to Hadrians wall.
Hadrians wall runs from Bowness-on-Solway on the West coast to Wallsend on the East coast, a distance of 73 miles and was built in 117a.d.. it was abandonded after Hadrian died in 138a.d., as Antinine took over and began construction of the Antonine wall. Though not the true border between England and Scotland the Fortifications which made up the Hadrians wall were between 10 and 12 feet high originally and served as a division between the Romans and their conquered Britania and the tribal clans which made up the Pictish peoples.
Hadrians wall was eventually abandoned as the Romans retreated and returned to Rome. They never truely conquered the Scottish Highlands or their people though during Romes presence many of those tribes and clans between the two walls converted to Christianity.
This was the first documented fight for independence of the Scottish people.
History of a over a thousand years of fighting
Scotland and the Scottish people have faced many foes during its long history. First documented invaders are the Romans in around 100a.d. but the Scottish highlanders from Northern Scotland and the Northern Isles maintained their independence throughout. Those from middle and lower regions though not overtaken completely by the Romans were encouraged to reach an understanding, and many were converted to Christianity from their own cultures and pagan beliefs. These converts were then known as the Picts thereafter. The Romans finally left Britain around 400a.d. when Rome was having problems at home and needed its armies to try to stop the Roman Empire from falling apart.
The next documented invasion of sorts was the rise of Christianity, first introduced by the Romans. This is supported more by the archeology of the time than by the written evidences, though as the Romans left Britain some written scripts begin to reference Christianity.
Iona was built in 563a.d. by Irish Missionaries as a Monastery and a centre of learning at the time. It was key in spreading Celtic Christianity to Northern Britain and the Scottish Isles. During the sixth century a.d. Dal Riata was formed on the West coast of Scotland and the North East corner or Ireland. It had a strong Seafaring culture and a Naval fleet. Iona, an island between Western Scotland and Ireland fell within the area of Dal Riata and developed Celtic Christianity in the area. In the seventh century the Irish Missionaries introduced the pagan Picts to that Celtic Christianity.
The Pictish King Nechtan abolished many of the Celtic practices and replaced them with the Roman rite. This resulted in restricting the Gaelic influence on his Kingdom, but it also avoided a war with Anglian Northumbria.
In the nineth century a.d. vikings invaded and this forced both the Picts and the Gaels to join forces, thereby stopping there own hostilities. By so doing the Picts and Gaels united forming the Kingdom of Scotland. It was formed under Kenneth and the House of Alpin.
Malcolm II, the last of the Alpin Kings, died without a male issue in the eleventh century. Succession passed through his daughters line to his grandson and the House of Dunkeld.
Alexander III died in 1286 with only a great grand daughter as his surviving heir. Unfortunately she died only four years later.
At this time Edward I of England took advantage. He set a series of attacks and conquests which became the Wars of Scottish Independence between the House of Bartiol and the House of Bruce. David II died without issue so Robert II , his nephew came forth from the House of Stuart. The final victory confirmed Scotland as a Sovereign and a fully independent kingdom for the next three centuries.
In 1603 with James VI, who was a Stuart King, taking over Englands throne to form a Union. The acts of Union of 1707 merged the two Kingdoms of Scotland and England into the Kingdom of Great Britain, thereby losing its independence. The Stuarts continued to reign until 1714 when Queen Anne died. The Houses of Hanover and Saxe-Coburg & Gotha descended from James VI and I of the House of Stuart, who became the House of Windsor of today.
Recent History of 20th and 21st centuries.
The industrial revolution affected Commercial, Intellectual and Industrial aspects of Scotland, and it joined the power houses of Europe. This declined following WWII. Since then North Sea Oil and Gas brought finance back to Scotland and the diversity of its culture lead to an economic renaissance.
Nationalism of 1950 became strong and Scottish Independence became a jot topic for discussion a series of Referendums followed in 1979, 1997 followed by a devolved Scottish Parliament being formed in 1999.
In 2007 a political party became the governing party, named the Pro Independence Scottish National Party. In 2011 it won an overall majority of seats in the Scottish Parliament election.
Subsequently, Scottish and UK governments held the Scottish Independence Referendum in 2014. Scotland got a 44.7% Yes to Scotland becoming Independent out of an 85% turn out at the polls, compared with 55.3% who answered No.
Opinion Polls continue to be taken about Scotland gaining its independence from Great Britain and about a devolution of power to Scotland about Scottish issues. Most Polls about having a referendum and about Scottish freedom from Brittain hover around the 45% mark in favour, although around the question of Brexit and Britain breaking free of Europe it rose to 49% in favour.
The most recent polls taken in January, April and July of 2020 show a majority mark of over 50%. Scotland has managed its Lock down re Covid in Line with Great Britains guidance but extended lockdown and slowed easing of restriction compared to the rest of Britain. As the current first minister for Scotlands parliament continues to push for Independence , the effects of her leadership in Lockdown add weight.
Conclusion
In conclusion, it can clearly be shown that the Scottish inhabitants have fought many battles through the last two to three thousand years and avoided British and other parties ruling Scotland for much of that time. It seems a forgone conclusion therefore that they will eventually win Independence once again, though more battles in the future will surely follow.