A Military History of Scotland

The Scottish soldier has been at war for over 2000 years. Until now, no reference work has attempted to examine this vast heritage of warfare.A Military History of Scotland offers readers an unparalleled insight into the evolution of the Scottish military tradition. This wide-ranging and extensively illustrated volume traces the military history of Scotland from pre-history to the recent conflict in Afghanistan. Edited by three leading military historians, and featuring contributions from thirty scholars, it explores the role of warfare in the emergence of a Scottish kingdom, the forging of a Scottish-British military identity, and the participation of Scots in Britain's imperial and world wars. Eschewing a narrow definition of military history, it investigates the cultural and physical dimensions of Scotland's military past such as Scottish military dress and music, the role of the Scottish soldier in art and literature, Scotland's fortifications and battlefield archaeology, and Scotland's military memorials and museum collections.

"Here truly is a magnificent book which does comprehensive justice to the Scottish military tradition over two millennia. No volume hitherto can equal its remarkable range, scholarly authority or deep insights. A veritable intellectual feast, it will stand for many years to come as the study on a subject which is absolutely central to the history of the Scottish nation." - T. M. Devine, Senior Research Professor in History, University of Edinburgh