History of Leith, Edinburgh

When we consider ancient Celtic myths and Celtic legends, we are confronted with two rather conflicting mental images. On the one hand, there is the mighty, ferocious Celtic warrior, famed and feared throughout the Roman empire, fighting naked or painted blue, screaming like a Berserker, and cutting off the heads of the enemy. for more click here

Scottish Medieval Churches is a history of Scottish churches from the 12th century to the Reformation. It is only a brief little book, obviously aimed at the tourist market, but it fits quite a substantial amount into its 64 pages, which are split fairly evenly between text and illustrations. (One limitation is a focus on buildings in state care, with others mentioned only where necessary to illustrate particular features.). for more click here

The history of Scotland in the High Middle Ages covers Scotland in the era between the death of Domnall II in 900 AD and the death of king Alexander III in 1286, which led indirectly to the Scottish Wars of Independence.

In the tenth and eleventh centuries, northern Great Britain was increasingly dominated by Gaelic culture, and by a Gaelic regal lordship known in Gaelic as “Alba”, in Latin as either “Albania” or “Scotia”, and in English as “Scotland”. From a base in eastern Scotland north of the River Forth, the kingdom acquired control of the lands lying to the south. It had a flourishing culture, comprising part of the larger Gaelic-speaking world. for more click here

This is a collection of articles and resources aimed at anyone interested in Scotland between A.D. 500 and 1603, from about when the King of Dál Riata moved from Ireland to Argyll to when King James VI of Scotland inherited the English throne. Because medieval Scotland was not isolated from its surroundings in either space or time, there are also some articles concerning related regions and the focus time span is somewhat flexible. for more click here

We only have two days to go for people to sign the Parliamentary petition for a Leith Museum at-

http://epetitions.scottish.parliament.uk/view_petition.asp?PetitionID=165

Please sign this is very important

The Knights Hospitaller (also known as the Sovereign Order of Saint John of Jerusalem of Rhodes and of Malta, Knights of Malta, Knights of Rhodes, and Chevaliers of Malta) is an organization that began as an Amalfitan hospital founded in Jerusalem in 1080 to provide care for poor and sick pilgrims to the Holy Land. After the conquest of Jerusalem in 1099 during the First Crusade it became a Catholic military order under its own charter, and was charged with the care and defense of pilgrims to the Holy Land. Following the loss of Christian territory in the Holy Land, the Order operated from Rhodes, over which it was sovereign, and later from Malta where it administered a vassal state under the Spanish viceroy of Sicily. Although this state came to an end with the ejection of the Order from Malta by Napoleon, the Order as such survived. for more click here

On the original Coat of Arms of Leith can be seen an image a very close resemblance of the Temple of Jerusalem as depicted above.

It was the Knights of St John that founded the Preceptory of St Anthony in Leith

The City Observatory stands on the summit of Calton Hill, near the East end of Princes Street and with in easy reach of Edinburgh’s City centre. Its buildings date back to 1776, and their classical architecture blends with many fine examples of telescope craftsmanship to make the Observatory unique. Here then, is an account of its rich and chequered history. for more click here

Tales of the Middle Ages – Miracles · Tales of the MiddleAges – Religious Art and more. for more click here