Before starting the 2nd world war, Hitler apparently sent out several signals of his intentions, and what pushed him to pursue his dark plan was the knowledge that no one would be brave enough to defy him because of the “Law of Jante”.

Law of Jante exists in most cultures in the whole world. Yes, you might not have heard it before but when somebody tells you its definition, you’ll surely give a nod.

Law of Jante as described by the Alchemist author Paulo Coehlo is that “You aren’t worth a thing, nobody is interested in what you think, mediocrity and anonymity are your best bet. If you act this way, you will never have any big problems in life.”

This law pushes everyone to stay in the middle. This invisible force creates a tidal wave of mediocrity among all kinds of people, colors, beliefs, sizes, shapes and ages. And all throughout history, we can see how this mammoth of belief system ate up the people’s courage to go beyond the norms and the ordinary. People who dare to go against the flow and demarcate himself or herself among the rest for progress’ sake are considered heretic, ingrate and not in their proper minds.

Its easier to be safe and dwell in Mediocrity land, however, when turbulences starts to do its rampage on the shoreline of our safety, everybody will start to wonder “but why did nobody say anything, if everybody see that this is going to happen?” the answer would be simple: nobody said anything because the others did not say anything either. Proving one of the famous lines,” what is necessary for the triumph of evil men is for good men to do nothing.”

Scotland was besieged by England during the 12th century. Their country was said to be overtaken by Englishmen. Most Scottish noblemen did not defy the “law of Jante”, instead, they remained deaf to the cry of their countryman and remained passive. Until one day, a man named William Wallace, stood up against this law.  He dared to fight and paid the price for the freedom of his beloved motherland. 

His famous lines as he encouraged his comrades as portrayed in the movie Braveheart were:

 “… I see a whole army of my countrymen here in defiance of tyranny. You have come to fight as free men, and free men you are. What would you do without freedom? Will you fight? Aye, fight and you may die. Run and you’ll live — at least a while. And dying in your beds many years from now, would you be willing to trade all the days from this day to that for one chance, just one chance to come back here and tell our enemies that they may take our lives, but they’ll never take our freedom!!!”

William Wallace could have died a gruesome death, but his death ignited nationalism in the hearts of his countrymen and as a nation, finished the work Wallace had started. Giving Scotland its desired freedom. 

Three hundred years of tyranny and abuse reigned in our country because no one dared to expose the abuse and maltreatment of the Spaniards in our own nation. Making us, the bona fide owner of our land, their slaves and using all our resources for their own gain plastered with this candy coated waterdrops called religion.  No one dared to flout – for it will be worthless anyway. Not until the death of GomBurZa,  not until Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo were published. Not until the “Cry of Pugad Lawin” was heard.   

In our blood runs the blood of law-of-Jante-defiers. Our rich heritage tells us that there is more than the usual and the mundane. You are here for a purpose and you play a vital role in your family, your society, your school, your organization, your province and our country. 

Eradicate apathy and passivity from your current dictionary and replace it with proactivity and excellence. Never let fear intimidate you as you dare to live your cultural mandate. 

In the end of the day, your life is determined by the choices you make. Don’t let somebody else do it for you.

Set in the 11th Century, Braveheart catalogues the struggle of Scottish serfs who labor under the brutal oppression of English occupation forces. Amidst these terrible conditions, William Wallace (Mel Gibson) falls in love with Murron MacClannough (Catherine McCormack). Insistent on not sharing his wife (a proclamation by the king gives local rulers “first-night rights” to new brides) Wallace secretly marries Murron. Nevertheless, an English knight assaults her, sparking a fight with Wallace. Fleeing the village, Wallace believes Murron has escaped and will soon meet him at a secret rendezvous point. But Murron is captured and executed by the king’s emissaries.

Angered by his wife’s murder, Wallace instigates a local rebellion, slaughtering all the king’s loyalists in his village. As his rebellion grows, a distraught Longshanks (Patrick McGoohan) dispatches his fabled Northern Army to destroy it. But the heroic Wallace delivers a stirring speech to rouse his men, while deploying an ingenious battlefield trick to defeat the king’s cavalry.

With the power and legend of Wallace growing day by day, Longshanks relies on his daughter-in-law, Princess Isabelle (Sophie Marceau) to broker a truce. But Isabelle’s power is limited, and Wallace realizes his people can only win freedom if backed by the Scottish nobles. Their appointed leader is Robert the Bruce (Angus MacFadyen) who vacillates between his own idealistic views and his father’s pessimistic pragmatism. Will the nobles join with Wallace? Will the Scots win their freedom? Only history tells us the answer…

With elaborate costumes, vivid battle scenes, and a noble hero as its focal point, Braveheart is more than your typical run-of-the-mill action movie. Part history, part Hollywood heroism – its timeless idealism strikes a cord with every viewer. In fact, the movie itself led to a revival in nationalistic pride that fueled the successful Scottish independence movement of the 1990s. It’s a testament to the strength and character of the real life William Wallace. A thousand years later, his enduring legacy continues to transform the European landscape, and Mel Gibson captures the noble warrior’s passion with an awe-inspiring Academy Award-winning masterpiece…

Cover of Braveheart (Sapphire Series) [Blu-ray]

“Braveheart” is a stark war movie of Mel Gibson, in addition to directing took on the role of leading actor. The film tells the story of 13th century Scotland, when she was an occupied country under the rule of England and the desire for independence. In addition, the film tells the story privately one of the great heroes, William Wallace, who fought for freedom of his country. Want to know more about the movie? Only if you read the next review!

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Name movie: “Braveheart.”
Language: English.
Genre: War.
Length: 177 minutes.
Release year: 1995.
Director: Mel Gibson.
Cast: Mel Gibson, Sophie Marceau, Brendan Gleeson and Patrick Mkgohn.

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The film opens in his home (later, Scotland) William’s, as a young boy in which his father and brother, they were all his family, traveling with other people make an agreement with the English nobility, and there find their death. William Young travels to his uncle after the burial to learn, among other things, war. Later, back and William as a man to his home, while it is in Scotland with England under great stress (eg, the first night law), and there finds the love of his life, Sharon. The plot later married William Maron, leading to the brutal murder of Sharon – by the English, because she would hold the English law for married women, the first night law. The murder of his wife causes William to understand the situation it is in his native Scotland, and begin to act accordingly. Here the film gets turned when William starts to lead all through the movie the war of Scotland with England, to be an independent state. Scotland got its independence? What happened to William, the hero of the country? The sequel will not be revealed to you, look at the film and find out for yourself.

A scene from the film, Scottish warriors fighting for independence against the English.

In summary, “Braveheart” is considered by many as one of the best war movies that were published, and one of the great symbols of freedom and independence of what it was. The plot is intertwined with a lot of concepts, including: freedom, courage, independence, desire, love and most importantly – freedom. The film gives the viewer identification with the occupied country and its war for independence. And of course, the country where you can sit quietly and confidently. In addition, a true love story and the hero’s unusual, that the average viewer identified him, beyond any doubt. Finally the movie summary, for the official, movie GRAPH five Oscars – what that says about the quality a lot and the many accolades he received.

One of the characters in the plot. The film will make viewers feel sympathy.

A more personal note, I saw the movie several times and each time I understood from him I learned more things and new concepts. Very long film, but every time I saw him, I sat for three hours at the screen – fascinated. If you ask me, Mel Gibson did an excellent job. Among other things, have to know some of the movie is not true historically, so that after watching a movie – you should read online about things that have changed little for the plot. This may disappoint some, but you have to choose between truth and pleasure in the movie. Either that, I personally guarantee pure pleasure from watching – you still here?

Cover of Braveheart (Sapphire Series) [Blu-ray]

Image via Wikipedia

Braveheart is a convincing historic movie with a great direction from Mel Gibson and the scenes are well constructed without losing the interest of the audience. The complete credit for the critical and commercial success of the movie goes to Mel Gibson who is a passionate man which is confirmed with the numerous controversies around him.

Released in the year 1995,this movie is a landmark movie in the film history and it has garnered 3 academy awards namely Best picture,Best Director,Best  cinematography,Best make up,Best sound editing. Mel Gibson has become history movie maker with a slew of history based movies like patriot,apocalypto,passion of Christ.

William Wallace played by Mel gibson return to his Scottish homeland after a longtime and marries Murron  played by Catherine. Scotland is ruled by King Edward I under cruel rules. On a fight after an attempt to rape his wife,Wallace fights and escapes and hides with his wife. But the sheriff captures his wife and kills her. Wallace takes his revenge by ambushing the sheriff and his soldiers. Wallace then forms a rebel group and lot of Scottish people join the rebel group. They win numerous battles with the Scottish noble Robert bruce. In a bid for peace, king Edward send the beautiful princess Isabelle to William Wallace. She is impressed and falls in love with him. In a battle, William was betrayed by the Scottish nobles and loses the battle. He goes into hiding but still continues the war. Once again deceived by Scottish nobles, he was captured and beheaded. This particular climax scene was shocking and engaging and we shall be in tears in this scene. There are lot of brutal and violent scenes which are shown with blood and aptly this movie is rated “R” .The battle scenes are made with lot of detailing and those scenes will be remembered by the audience forever.

I recommend this movie for action, drama, history movie viewers

Scotland at the time was an independent country but one in some political turmoil. In 1286, King Alexander III had died following a fall from his horse during a storm. He had no surviving children so the Scottish nobility declared his granddaughter, the 4 year old Margaret Maid of Norway, as his successor. The always manipulative King of England, Edward I, was quick to take advantage of the instability in Scotland. He negotiated the betrothal of his son, also Edward, the Prince of Wales, to Margaret. Though in doing so he had to sign the Treaty of Bingham thereby promising to preserve Scottish law, customs, and independence.

In 1290, Scotland was plunged into further disarray when the 7 year old Maid of Norway died. The contending parties for the Scottish throne were immediately at each others throats; so to prevent a descent into chaos and civil war the Scottish nobility approached Edward I to act as arbitrator.

There were many claimants to the throne but the choice in the end came down to just two, the Balliol’s or the Bruce’s. Both families had strong claims but Edward decided that it was Balliol’s claim that was senior in genealogical primogeniture if not by proximity of blood. At Berwick-upon-Tweed on 17 November, 1292, Edward announced his decision and John Balliol was crowned King of Scotland at Scone two weeks later on 30 November.

King John Balliol’s reign was to be a short and unhappy one. He was not a man strong enough to stand up to his more powerful English neighbour and Edward was determined that he should serve as no more than his vassal in Scotland, and he soon became known derisively as Toom Tabard, or Empty Coat. Ordered to appear before Edward’s Court in London he was subjected to one of his notorious rages. Like so many before him he cowered before the furious Longshanks. Treated as if he were a common criminal Balliol was publicly belittled and humiliated. Returning to Scotland in March, 1296, an outraged nobility forced him to renounce his homage to Edward.

Edward’s response to this refusal to pay him homage was swift and deadly. He raised an army and marched upon Berwick-upon-Tweed then Scotland’s most populace town and the hub of its commercial activity. Edward was mercilless and the town was ransacked and its people put to the sword. Indeed, so great was the slaughter that it was said that the streets ran with blood, and the killing only ceased when Edward himself witnessed the baby of a a pregnant woman being torn from its mothers womb. Those Scots who had survived the massacre were cleared from the town and it was re-populated by Englishmen from Northumbria. Berwick has remained south of the border ever since. Edward then went onto to rout the Scottish army at the Battle of Dunbar. By July, 1296, he had forced King John Balliol to abdicate, from now on Scotland would be ruled by Englishmen. In the meantime, he had removed the Stone of Scone upon which all Scottish Monarchs had been crowned and taken it to London remarking as he did so that ” It does one good service to rid oneself of a turd.” The scene was set for war.    

According to legend, William Wallace had by this time an already a well-known reputation for fighting. It was said that approached by some English soldiers in the market place at Lanark he was accused by them of poaching his catch of fish. As such, they demanded he hand it over. He refused but instead offered them half. They demanded he hand it all over or he would be arrested. The argument soon descended into a brawl and Wallace killed two of the soldiers before chasing off the others. He later killed the son of the English Governor of Dundee in revenge for the harassment of his family. As early as 1292, he had knifed to death the son of Lord Selby. A warrant had long been issued for his arrest. In May, 1297, he murdered William de Heselrig, the English High Sheriff of Lanark, whom he believed had ordered the execution of Marion Braidfute, the woman he had recently married. But by this time he was already an outlaw. If anyone was willing to fight it was, William Wallace.

Despite the forced abdication of King John Balliol, Scotland remained in rebellion. The rebellion, however, did not have the support of the majority of the 1800 Scottish nobles many of whom had been captured at the Battle of Dunbar and had since pledged their allegiance to Edward I. It was the uprising of the common people and by 1296 Wallace had recruited a small army of his own from those who rallied to his cause at Selkirk Forest.

Meanwhile, in the Highlands the Earl of Murray was waging a successful guerrilla war against the English making the region almost ungovernable. He had already captured Inverness and Urquhart Castle before he decided to march his forces south. In communication with Wallace it was decided that he at the same time would advance his forces north. It was now that Scottish resistance to English dominance really took off. 

They met at Stirling and immediately laid siege to the Casle there. In response, on 11 September, 1297, an English army led by John de Warenne, the 7th Earl of Surrey, numbering 3,000 Knights and 8,000 foot soldiers,descended on the town. The greatly outnumbered forces of Wallace and Murray, perhaps some 3,500 sallied forth to meet him. Though some made plain their reluctance to fight given such a seemingly hopeless situation, Wallace and Murray had carefully laid out their plans, and Wallace was determined that no matter what there would be a fight. Two Dominican friars who were sent to negotiate a Scottish surrender were told by Wallace to tell their commander that, ” we are not here to make peace but to do battle, defend ourselves and liberate our Kingdom. Let them come on, and we shall prove so in their very beards. They were well chosen words intended to provoke the enemy, and they worked like a dream.

The Earl de Warenne was an arrogant and indolent man who’d had to delay his own battle plans because he had overslept. He certainly wasn’t going to be spoken to in those terms by any jumped-up colonial subject of the English Crown. Outraged, de Warenne began to send his troops across the Stirling Bridge that separated his forces from those of Wallace and Murray. But so narrow was the bridge that at some points only two could cross at a time. The log-jam led to disarray in the English ranks. Wallace and Murray allowed about half of the English army to cross before they attacked. Taken completely by surprise the English were easily routed and a great many killed, some drowned in the river as they desperately sought to flee the massacre that was underway. In response, de Warenne sent in his heavy cavalry but these were easily repulsed by the Scottish sheltrons (tightly packed squares defended by 15 foot stakes jammed into the ground). The Knights, forced to retreat, rode down the infantry following behind. Panic ensued and though as yet half of the English army had not yet been committed to battle, de Warenne could not flee the field quick enough. 

One of those killed in the fighting was the hated Lord Treasurer of Scotland Hugh de Cressingham. It was said that Wallace had the body of Cressingham flayed and had a belt made for his sword from a strip of the torn skin. 

At least 5,000 English had been killed at the Battle of Stirling Bridge in what was a decisive victory for the Scots, and at the forefront of the fighting had been William Wallace wielding a giant 5 foot long broadsword. Alas, the Earl of Murray had been mortally wounded in the fighting and died some months later.

William Wallace was described at this time as, ” a tall man with the body of a giant, cheerful in appearance with agreeable features, broad-shouldered and big-boned, with belly in proportion, pleasing in appearance but with a wild look.”

Following the victory at Stirling Bridge, Wallace (though he was a Balliol man) was knighted by Robert the Bruce  and made Guardian of Scotland. As de facto leader of his country, Wallace was determined to take the war to the English. He invaded northern England ravaging much of Northumberland and advancing as far south Newcastle. If Edward could rampage across Scotland with impunity then he would do likewise to England.

Edward I had been campaigning in France when he learned of the defeat at Stirling Bridge and he was swift to react. Returning to England he demanded that the Scots Commissioners present themselves at Court and pay homage, when they refused he declared them traitors and ordered his army to assemble at Roxburgh.

This time William Wallace would not be facing a subordinate of the King of England but Edward I himself and he had assembled a powerful army. He had more than 15,000 men, 3,000 of whom were knights on horseback. He also had a great many Welsh longbowmen. Wallace, by comparison could only muster 6,000 men most of whom were infantry. But then Wallace had no intention of confronting Edward instead he adopted a scorched earth policy. All crops, livestock and even places of shelter in the path of Edward’s army were destroyed. At the same time his lines of supply were cut and his baggage trains harassed. In a very short time Edward’s army began to starve. Reports of dissent from Edward’s camp reached Wallace and he moved his army closer to the English with the aim of pursuing them on what he believed would be their inevitable retreat out of Scotland.

When news that Wallace’s army was within ten miles of his own Edward was heard to exclaim, ” As God lives, they need not pursue me, for I will meet them this day.” Wallace was inclined to withdraw his army but he was encouraged to stand and fight by those Scottish nobles present, particularly the Comyn’s.

Aware that he was greatly outnumbered Wallace formed his troops into four tightly-packed sheltrons and waited for Edward to come on to him. He did not have to wait long. Still smarting from the defeat at Stirling Bridge and the humiliation of Wallace’s invasion of England, Edward’s Knight’s were eager for the fray. They attacked with gusto but were shattered on the 15 foot pikes of the sheltron and forced to retreat. Likewise, Edward’s infantry were repulsed in much bitter fighting that saw Wallace’s advance guard entirely wiped out. But Edward had a secret weapon – his Welsh longbowmen. With total disregard for his own troops that were still in the firing line he launched volley after volley of arrows into the Scottish lines until gaps appeared that could be exploited by his infantry. At this critical moment the thousand or so horsemen commanded by the nobility that Wallace held in reserve deserted the field of battle. It was the end, with his greater numbers what had been a closely fought contest rapidly became a rout. Those Scots who could, including Wallace himself,  fled into nearby woods. More than 2,000 Scots had been killed along with a similar number of English, barely a 1,000 escaped.

William Wallace’s military reputation never recovered from the defeat at Stirling Bridge. Those of the nobility who had never really accepted him as the de facto ruler of Scotland now turned against him and by September, 1292, he had been forced to resign as Guardian Scotland. 

In the winter of 1292, Wallace and his friend, William Crawford, travelled to France to plead with the French King Philip IV, for French assistance in the struggle for Scottish independence. But despite a stream of fine words and broken promises no help was forthcoming. In 1303, they were persuaded to return to Scotland.

Wallace was determined to continue the struggle and fought a series of skirmishes with the English army from his base in Selkirk Forest, but he was never again to have the forces available to him to wage war. Edward, on the other hand, was equally determined to bring this brigand to justice, and with most of the Scottish nobility, including Robert the Bruce, reconciled to him by 1303, and the country crawling with English troops, it was only a matter of time. 

On 5 August, 1305, William Wallace was captured by troops loyal to the Scottish noble John de Monteith who, probably on the orders of Robert the Bruce, handed him over to the English. With no one willing to speak in his defence, Wallace, the victor of Falkirk and former Guardian of Scotland, was taken to London without so much as a murmur. 

On 23 August, William Wallace stood trial at Westminster Hall charged with treason. It was a show trial and Wallace spoke in his defence only once when the charge of treason was read out. ” I cannot be a traitor, for I owe him no allegiance, he is not my sovereign, he never received my homage. I am a subject of King John Balliol.” He had every right to be indignant at such an outrageous charge. Of all the Scottish nobles none had been so steadfast and unwavering in their resistance to Edward I than William Wallace. But it made no difference to the verdict, later that same day he was taken to Smithfield, and forced to wear a crown of oak leaves as proof of his status as a false prophet, he was stripped naked and dragged through the streets past a crowd fired in their rage by stories of Wallace the butcher, and Wallace the baby-killer. There he was jeered, abused, and spat upon before being hung until near dead, having his entrails removed and burned before his eyes whilst still alive, and finally being beheaded. His body was then quartered and the various parts distributed around London for public display.

Many years before the young William’s uncle told him, ” of all things freedom is most fine. Never submit to live, my son, in the bonds of slavery entwined.” William Wallace, never did. 

On 1 May, 1707, the countries of England and Scotland were united as one nation. There had been no invasion and no war, a deal had been struck. As Scotland’s national poet, Robert Burns, bitterly remarked, ” We were bought and sold for English gold.” William Wallace, must turn in his grave.  

The country that has come to be known as Scotland, a member state in the United Kingdom, was formed from the convergence of four distinct people groups and a number of smaller kingdoms. During the first centuries of the formation and unification of the peoples of Scotland into a combined whole, the country was a primitive backwater. There was no established system of centralized government. Development of production and trade in goods and services was lagging behind the rest of Western Europe. There was also a lack of regionalized control with no system of feudalism, courts, or religious bureaucracy in place. Then, in the early twelfth century, a monarch came to the throne of Scotland who set in motion events that would change all of this. King David I, who reigned from 1124 to 1153 AD, set into motion processes and events that would forever change the political, economic and religious landscape of Scotland. These changes were brought about through a reordering and expansion of the religious bureaucracy, the introduction of Norman nobility with the institution of feudalism and ordering of Scotland’s political administration and the addition of certain economic programs. King David I brought Scotland out of the dark ages and set the country firmly on the path towards being a legitimate and recognized player in Europe’s High Middle Ages.

The Allying of Four Peoples

The land known now as Scotland was called by a different name in the first millennium. That northernmost region of the British Isles above the Solway Forth and Hadrian’s Wall carried the name of Alba. By the year 800 AD, Alba had become the home of four distinct people-groups with four distinct kingdoms. The earliest inhabitants, the Picts, occupied the northeast corner of Alba. The Scotic kingdom was in the west and the islands. The Angles established themselves in the southeastern region of Lothian and Northumbria while the Britons held sway in the region of Strathclyde.  

History remembers the Picts as the original inhabitants of Alba. There is little in the way of conclusive evidence as to the origin of the Picts although legends state that they are related in some manner to the Celts of Ireland. While residing on the island of Eire with those people, the Pict Nobility became indebted to the Irish Celts, and as a consequence, intermarrying with Celtic wives and adopting the custom of matrilineal descent in the royal house. The Picts spoke a form of P-Celtic in addition to another language that is unlike any of the other Indo-European tongues.

The Scots were a tribe of Gaelic speaking Celts who had developed a community and kingdom in the north of Ireland. By the fourth century, this tribe, or allied clans were assailing the Roman colony of Britannia. In search of living space, colonies were formed and small kingdoms established by Fergus Mor and his two brother Loarn and Angus in Kintyre, Oban, Isla and Jura on the southwestern coast and islands of Alba by 500 AD. Supported by Irish missionaries, these kingdoms flourished to the point of being a major force in the region by the ninth century.

After the withdrawal of the Roman Legions from Britannia, inhabitants of the lowlands of Scotland and northern England banded together to form a people known as Britons. The Britons were of both Celtic and Roman stock. Some of the Briton Chieftains had Roman names in their pedigrees and many professed Christianity. They formed a kingdom named Strathclyde.

The fourth people group that added to the formation of the Scots Nation was the Angles. A Germanic people, they had established themselves in the region of Bamburgh from which they quickly extended their power to form the kingdom of Northumbria. In 756 AD, Angles and Picts fought together against the Britons as one of the first steps in the process of assimilation of the four peoples. The Anglo-Pict alliance was sealed with the marriage of Prince Eanfrith of the Angles to a Pictish bride.

The next phase of the unification of Scotland came in 843. It was in this year that the King of Scots Kenneth MacAlpin gained the throne of the Pict Kingdom. It is unclear how this union formed although sources seem to agree that it was not due to conquest. It seems probable that Kenneth MacAlpin inherited the throne of the Picts through their custom of matrilineal descent.

Less than two centuries after the unification of the Scot and Pict kingdoms, the Angles and the Britons had also been brought into the Scottish Realm. In 1018, allied with Owen the Bald who was ruler of Strathclyde, Malcolm II of the Scots gained Lothain while Owen lost his life, therby setting the stage for a unified Scotland. In 1034, Duncan I who was the grandson of Malcolm II became king of a unified Scotland.  Pockets of resistance remained, however, even into the reign of King David I, especially in the northern parts of the country, specifically in the region of Moray, which received special attention from him.

During the early period of Scottish unification, the king was appointed from the regions of Atholl and Moray alternately. However, this practice was not conducive to a stable term of governance or a seamless succession and ended in 1057. It was in that year that Malcolm Canmore, the third of that name, a king of the Atholl region, slew Macbeth and assumed the title of King of the Scots. The Canmore dynasty was then to last for more than 200 years .

Four sons and a brother of Malcolm III occupied the throne of Scotland after his death in 1093. Upon the death of his second son, Edgar in 1207, the kingdom was divided between the last two surviving sons, Alexander and David. Alexander I ruled over Scotland proper while David assumed control over the southern territories of Lothian and Strathclyde. David also had territories in England, due to his marriage to Matilda that brought him the Honor of Huntingdon with lands in the southeastern Midlands and Northumbria. Alexander ruled until his death in 1124, at which time David I, who ruled until 1153, succeeded him to the Scots throne.

David had been raised in the English Court of Henry I. Henry was married to David’s sister Edith who Henry called Maud. David was most likely sent there due to the political turmoil that existed surrounding the succession after the death of his father. During this time, David was educated in the ways that would serve his monarchy well upon his ascension to the throne of Scotland. Maud was a very pious woman and from her David learned to respect and revere things of God, a respect that he was to demonstrate during his reign. It was also because of his life in the English Court and as ruler of the southern territories that he because familiar with the Norman nobles that would lend themselves to his aid in governing the kingdom.

Religious Identity, Structure and Extension

In the year 1124, the ecclesiastical state of Scotland was sorely lacking. With only three bishoprics in the entire land and no properly organized system of parishes, the church did not exert much influence one way or another on the people.  During the Canmore dynasty, however, a system of diocesan episcopacy was introduced.  During the reign of King David I, he began this process as part of his reforms to extend his control over his far-flung kingdom.

Organization of the country into parishes and bishoprics was useful for political reasons as well as for spreading the Christian faith. David used the Church and her divine authority over the people, to assist in civilizing and pacifying the different tribes and clans in the outlying provinces. The addition of six new bishoprics in Glasgow, Brechin, Dunblaine, Caithness, Ross and Aberdeen coupled with the restoration of two pre-existing ones in Moray and Dunkeld brought wide ranges of Scotland under a watchful eye. In addition to the establishment of the bishoprics, he further divided the area into parishes where, in many, churches were built with royal donations. Dating back to his time as ruler over only the southern part of Scotland, King David also made a point of giving aid to the Christian Monks. During his reign there, and continuing through his life, King David, also known as “the saint,” lent his support to the formation and endowment of many of Scotland’s abbeys.

The growth of the Scottish Church, in addition to being a means for regulating and civilizing the realm, also facilitated the further melding of the people-groups of this relatively new nation into compatriots. David wanted the Church of Scotland to have autonomy. He encouraged the Scottish Bishops to resist orders from the Pope of Rome to submit to the supremacy of the Archbishop of York, in England. This dispute lasted throughout the remainder of the twelfth century, during which time the foundation for the independence and the identity of the Scottish Church, and by extension the Scots as one people, was laid.

Political Establishment, Structure and Regulation

As previously stated, upon the advent of David to the throne of Scotland, there was no system of governance in place to regulate the wide expanse of the realm. It has been shown that this was partially addressed with the addition of ecclesiastical divisions. This was, however, but one prong of his plan to place Scotland on a course towards a civil and structured society that the ruling elements of the monarchy could more easily govern. As historian David Broun wrote, “The Scottish kingdom before 1100 had only the most embryonic royal government.” During his reign, King David I set about to do several things to change this.

One important facet of running a medieval kingdom that David learned during his time in the English Court was the practice of feudalism. Under this system, land is granted to vassals by an overlord in exchange for loyalty in certain spheres such as military service, the collection of taxes and regional administration. In his early adulthood, while David was overseeing his territories in southern Scotland and his English estates he became familiar with families of the newly arrived Norman military elite. These new friends were to prove very useful to him in his future role as King of Scots.

Early in his reign, David granted lands in the lowlands of Scotland to several Norman families that he knew from his holdings in Huntingdon. He realized the value that making vassals of these military elites would be in his attempts to organize his new territories politically and transform the diverse peoples into a nation. The earliest of the families that received estates were the Morevilles, Soulises, Fitz Alans and the Bruces. The earliest surviving charter is the famous one that granted the Bruce family the 200,000 acres in Annandale. By the end of his reign, feudalism had taken a strong hold in the southern territories of Scotland and had begun to make inroads in the north. This northern infusion of Norman military elite proved especially useful after 1130 to subdue rebellion in Moray.

This introduction of feudalism firmly extended the king’s control over the regions of Cunningham, Kyle and Carrick .  Before this time, with no established feudal system to control the widespread territories, local chieftains felt little or no regard for the king’s writ. With the support of the Norman elite, however, David was free to extend other forms of control as well. He appointed sheriffs to enforce the laws and justicars to mete out justice in the provinces. Between these royal appointments and the religious courts, the kingdom was set on its course toward civility and regulation. In some regions with large Celtic populations, such as Galloway and Orkney, customary laws remained, however there was also the main body of recognized law that the king reserved to his own administration; The Lex Terrae. These new offices of sheriff and justicar enabled King David and his successors to do just that, administer his laws uniformly in the provinces across the realm.

King David was also intent upon establishing a national governmental system of administration and justice similar to what he had grown accustomed to at the court of Henry I in England. David established a number of courtly offices to further this goal. The office of chamberlain was the financial officer of the realm. He was responsible for the crown’s revenues and disbursements. The royal constable was the king’s chief military officer. Raising armies and directing their movements to combat invasions and to quell rebellion in the provinces fell under his purview. The chancellor was the most prestigious of the offices of King David’s court. His responsibility was for the royal records and the safekeeping of the royal seal in addition to other tasks. His role was comparable to that of the secretary of state in modern governments. Finally, was the office of steward. The steward was responsible for the king’s household. The constant proximity of the steward to the king made his importance great as a caretaker and adviser to the crown. The office became hereditary in about 1136 and granted to Walter FitzAlan who became Water Steward whose descendants eventually gained the throne of Scotland and England.

King David I brought these court officers together with bishops and from that pool of talent, he selected a core group to comprise his royal council. This council included members of the royal family and some magnates as well. The royal council was tasked with several responsibilities. The primary responsibility was to advise the king on affairs of the kingdom. The body authenticated charters, carried out the commands of the king, and was the central governing authority for dealing with major administrative and judicial matters. With this central governing council, King David instituted the foundations of a royal court that would serve to bring Scotland’s political and administrative functions to a point more contemporary with the other leading Western European nations of the day.

Economic Advancement

As has been shown in the spheres of religion and government, King David I had a desire to transform his kingdom into a viable member of the Western European community through restructuring and modernization. These had a tremendous impact on the ability to administrate and control the territory for which he found himself responsible. However, David was faced with a kingdom that was lagging economically as well. Scottish historian Fitzroy MacLean noted that in 1124, the year that David ascended the throne, Scotland was a “primitive country with no towns and scarcely any industry or commerce” (MacLean;2000, 30). A king of great action and vision, David sought to change that during his reign and set his country on the course that would lead to an increase in urbanization, industrialization and commerce.

The primary way of increasing the number of towns in the kingdom was to establish them through royal charter. Burghs started as common places used by the areas inhabitants for defense. Royal charters gave them legitimacy with certain rights and some liabilities. Achieving burgh status gave the town rights such as immunity from royal officials, particularly the sheriff, and freedom from tolls in addition to being able to deal directly with the royal exchequer. Burghs also had the right to hold product monopolies, thereby raising their importance in a growing market economy.  The right of burghs to hold markets and fairs further enhanced this growing market economy. These fairs and markets gave the townspeople a trading outlet for their goods and a means to buy necessities that may not have been produced in their own households. Traveling salespeople or peasants in outlying areas brought these goods into town to trade. King David I granted the status of burgh to a number of small towns during his reign in this attempt to increase the economic viability of his kingdom.

Another way that King David I sought to further the economic advancement of Scotland was to institute a national system of weights and measures (MacLean, 2000). A nationwide system of measuring all manner of things was important to the kingdom. David was encouraging trade with foreign countries and the knowledge that a weight on one end of the kingdom would be the same at any other place in the land was important in establishing trade networks. Nationwide standardization of this type also served to plant more firmly the seeds of a national identity in the minds of the subjects of the crown.

King David I used one other means to plant these seeds of national identity and to structure the economy for advancement. This was the establishment of the first Scottish coinage and the erection of two royal mints. Up until this time, Scotland did not have her own currency. Trading was done by the barter system or with coins from other countries. By establishing his own coinage, minted in his own royal mints, and measured with the new standard system of weights, the realm had one more vehicle with which to meld the diverse peoples of the kingdom as compatriots and was a vehicle that the common person could grasp with ever-increasing ease.

King David I: Architect of Advancement

King David I and Scotland received great benefit from his time spent in the English Court of Henry I and from his time spent among the English and Norman nobility. Scotland, a land of diverse peoples who were just learning to live together, began to be led out of the primitive state the country was in and firmly set on the path toward becoming an accepted player in Western European politics and trade. Through the establishment of the central government system, complete with officers and a central council, David extended his control over the realm as a whole. The establishment of burghs, coinage and a system of weights and measures in addition to the promotion of foreign trade, King David I advanced urbanization, industry and commercial interests. By establishing a feudal system, introducing the Norman military elite to Scotland David instituted a force that would allow for regional control and accountability to the crown. Through the establishment of the new bishoprics and parishes, King David gained the favor and assistance of the church with increased regional control and in melding the diverse population into one nation. The reign of King David I set these processes and events into motion and forever changed the political, economic and religious landscape of Scotland.

Although the changes had not been firmly entrenched in the northern territories, they had taken firm root in the south. In the lowlands “… what remained of the old Celtic way of life had been swept away.” Although most of the control was limited to the southernmost regions, The very fact that Malcolm III, the son of King David, retained possession of the throne and establishing firmly the practice of hereditary succession can be taken as proof that the northern precincts of the kingdom had begun to accept the supremacy of the unified government. King David I should be remembered by history as the monarch whose vision and execution brought Scotland out of the dark ages and set the country firmly on the path towards being a legitimate and recognized player in Europe’s High Middle Ages.

Sources Consulted

Broun, David. “When Did Scotland Become Scotland?” History Today. (Oct. 1996): p 16-21.

Cahill, Thomas. How the Irish Saved Civilization. New York: Nan A. Talese – Doubleday, 1995.

Lodge, Henry Cabot, ed. The History of Nations: Ireland by P. W. Joyce and Scotland by A. H. Shearer, Volume XII. New York: Collier & Son Pub Co, 1928.

MacKay, James. William Wallace: Brave Heart. Edinburgh; Mainstream Publishing Co., 2003.

Mackie, J.D. A History of Scotland, 2nd Edition. London: Penguin Books, 1991.

MacLean, Fitzroy. Scotland: A Concise History, 2nd Edition. London: Thames & Hudson, 2000.

MacManus, Seumas. The Story of the Irish Race: A Popular History of Ireland. Revised Edition, New York: Random House, 1990.

McDonald, R. Andres. “Treacheries in the Remotest Territories of Scotland: Northern Resistance to the Canmore Dynasty, 1130-1230.” Canadian Journal of History August 1998: 161-193.

Scott, Ronald MacNair. Robert the Bruce King of Scots. New York: Carroll and Graf Publishers, Inc., 1992.

Scott, Sir Walter. Scotland, Vol. 1. New York: P.F. Collier and Sons, 1899.

             The guy who was talked about with his work and family life about a decade ago is now sadly remembered with his rants, angry phone calls and some drunken remarks. While I feel bad about this side of Mel Gibson and really missing the times he used to look great and was hardly the talk of media with his daily life, no celebrity is perfect. Sure, I don’t approve it when Mel goes all derailed on us. Before his break-up with Oksana, I had written an article called What in the World Happened to You. But when he made Edge of Darkness, a wonderful drama/thriller by all means, I updated the post and said I didn’t give a damn. After all, he makes good movies. Who cares about his private life?  Oh sure, it is lovely when Clive Owen charms us with his lovely marriage and I respect how private Keanu Reeves is. But role model celebrities are hard to come by so there is no point in Mel Gibson taking all the heat. You don’t agree? Well, let me remind you what some despicable stuff other celebs did here.

That said, I really want Mel to be in the spotlight with his work and not his bad habits and mishaps. This guy did Braveheart, The Man without a Face, Gallipoli, Tim, Mad Max, Lethal Weapon and more.

Cover of Mad Max (Special Edition)

Cover of Braveheart (Sapphire Series) [Blu-ray]

Cover of Tim

Cover of Gallipoli

But, since he is an actor, it is time he let go of his obsession with religion and get some diversity under his belt. Now, he did get some different roles – he played a burnt victim, a drug dealer, a Scottish hero, a young Anzac soldier and all that, but he has played a father, avenger and a cop too many times. It is time for him to play:

-          A gay guy. Oh yes, we know about how he is known as an anti-gay person. The thing is many of the guys I know are pro-gay when it comes to lesbians but anti-gay when it comes to men being with men. And don’t forget  one of Mel’s good friends, famous actress Jodie Foster is gay. So until I personally hear Mel Gibson say all gays should go to hell or something, including Foster, I am not going to bother on that one. Plus, it is acting, Mel. You need to be able to play people with different sexual orientations.

-          An atheist. Oh, that I’d love to see.

-          A villain. He played a drug-dealer, but he was a romantic, a good friend and he doted on his son and he was trying to give up the job (the movie is Tequila Sunrise). So no, Mel never played a true villain. Go ahead, Mel. Play a murderer, a serial-killer, a rapist… Go nuts!

So after he learns to become private like Keanu, and gets into different characters, people will remember him as he’d want: as a good actor/director and not an overly religious alcoholic.

Picture Source

If you want to spend quality time with someone, but don’t have a great deal of money right now, there are many things you can find to do that will be special. It truly has more to do with the company than anything else. Sure it would be nice to have the means to be able to fly to Spain at a moment’s notice, but you can’t pay for the amazing beauty found in the ever changing hues melting in the evening sky and you can’t replace the feel of warm arms encircling you in an embrace of true love. Nothing is comparable to moments such as these – nothing.

So, maybe right now you are struggling to get your career to the place you want it to be. Maybe you have made some mistakes financially in the past. We all make mistakes. We are all still constantly learning and growing. And, we always will be learning, growing and making mistakes. But, what is most important in life is to try your very best at any given moment and truly appreciate the genuine moments in life.

I have always been a true romantic at heart. I have always believed that when I find the man of my dreams I would do anything for him. In the end, it is often said that people on their death beds only truly remember how other people made them feel. And, this is why I believe that though money is important and can make many things in life easier, what is most important is staying true to who you are and the strength of an incredible character.

I have been told that Braveheart, the movie, is not typically a favorite movie for ladies. I would have to say it is probably my favorite movie of all time. It not only touches all realms of emotions, but it also portrays a main character who stands for truth, virtue and goodness above all else. People of his character are few and far between. They are people who live their life in such a way that people cannot help but be moved by.

People like Martin Luther King Jr. and Mother Teresa. These are people to not only admire and aspire to be more like, but they are people who truly knew the meaning of life. It is to lift others higher, to love people more than maybe their actions warrant at any given moment – for when you do, this changes people, and to live standing by your values above all else.

“We are the world, we are the children – we are the ones who make the world a brighter place so let’s keep giving”

My very best wishes, to all.

Joie Schmidt © Copyright 2007 All Rights Reserved.

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Dreams of the Heart – volume I by Joie Schmidt is available:

  * Volume I: Amazon Kindle, Adobe Reader, iTunes, iPod, iPhone, iPad and iBooks

Dreams of the Heart – volume II is available:

  * Volume II: Amazon Kindle, Adobe Reader

———> Stay tuned . . . vol. II will soon be available on iTunes, iPod, iPhone, iPad and iBooks!

(*In memoriam of the tragedy in Japan all proceeds from – volume I – sales will go to the relief efforts until 3/11/12)

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For more great reading:

• Mind Over Matter
• Don’t Forget to Recycle!
• Appreciate and Give Thanks
• Boost Your Self Esteem Easily
• The Infinite Power of Compliments
• 57 Websites You Want to Know About
• Make Everything You Publish Count
• Always Look for the Best in Others
• Your Path is Filled With Happiness
• Goals and Thoughts Manifest Your Reality

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