The Wild West of Scotland and the Border Reivers: Clans and Chaos on The Scottish-English Border

The Wild West of Scotland and the Border Reivers Clans: Chaos on The Scottish-English Border

The term Wild West conjures up a vison of an America cowboy or a classic Hollywood film. The Wild West can equally be used to describe Scotland’s border with England at various points down through history however, although I can esure you the weather is better in California.

Chapters:
0:00 Border Reivers
2:08 Border Reiver Clans
3:34 The Royal View
4:25 Border Law
4:53 The War on the Reivers and Ulster Plantation
6:01 Support this Channel

The border reivers refers to raiders along the Anglo-Scottish border from the around the 13th century to the 17th century. Made up of both Scots and English people, the border reivers had little to no regard for nationality and they raided along the entire border area, which was a wild and somewhat lawless region for hundreds of years. Reave literally means to raid, rob and plunder. Raids usually took place within a days ride of the border area, with English raiders hitting as far as the outskirts of Edinburgh.

Today, I’ve come to Smailholm Tower, a peel tower just west of Kelso in the Scottish borders. Standing at 20m, it was built by the Clan Pringle in the 15th century, the wardens of Ettrick Forest, and it served in part as a stronghold and a watch tower where signal fires could be lit when English forces attacked. It also served as a safehouse when border reivers attacked, as this region was in prime border reiver territory.

During two raids in 1544, Northumberland reivers got away with more than 700 cattle, 104 horses and over a hundred prisoners. The tower would also go on to inspire Sir Walter Scott when he was a wee laddie recovering from polio in his grandparents farmhouse nearby. In fact, Scott may have coined the term border reiver.

The border region in general was a wild place historically, a somewhat lawless place, as there was constant tension and conflict given it’s geography. When war between Scotland and England erupted, which was common for hundreds of years, the region was always devastated.

This instability meant that farming was often considered a waste of time for many, as the borderland was destroyed whenever war broke out. The borderland thus became a violent and instable region, as fire breeds fire. As oppose to looking for royal authority for security (with the armies of that authority causing devastation), people relied on their kindred.

Some of the major Scottish clans in the border region include Clan Johnstone, known to keep watch against English advances along the Anglo-Scottish border, known as the Scottish Marches. Clan Elliot was another clan that occupied the borderland region, and they were known as being the wildest clan of the border reivers. Another major border clan was Armstrong.

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#borderreivers #scotland #history

[celtichistorydecoded]

Sorry about the wind, it was terrible and I had to edit the audio heavily at times. Please let me know your thoughts below, and let me know if you have been to Smailholm Tower before? It's pretty cool. Thanks 😀

[occidentadvocate.]

Another master piece. Better then any thing that's on TV. Many of these surnames mentioned are extremely common on Tyneside and the Northeast. Brilliant video, sharing it with family, and my best mate John Armstrong. 😉

[faolanliath]

Many of the infamous names of the old American West are border names of English and Scots origin.

[patrickcosgrove]

Great video, well presented too. Plenty of information on the border clans in a short video. Well done 👍

[revr]

PROUD Border Reiver, Moffat Clan; I aspire for greatness!

[michaelwhite]

I have many of these Reivers in my ancestry. Thank you, great video.

[deadrabbitstraining]

The Johnstones were wardens of the western marshes

[Clintreid]

Hey, a picture of my brother on the thumbnail 😂 No, I’m actually a Reid but I’m probably named after Eastwood! Keep up the great work and all the best for the new year to you, your family and everyone else who reads my comment 🍻

[maureenjohnstone]

Clan Johnstone myself, we are still going strong, I have a large family now, still have that strength in all of us, thankyou for sharing 😊

[markscott]

Thanks! 'They'll be moonlight tonight, the Scott's are out!"

[petercastles]

My mob on my mother's side, English, was Milburn. I have been told recently they were Reivers. My Grandfather lived not far out of Carlisle.

[SeaAngMo]

any info on the Taylor Family? as I understand it, Taylors were border reivers (?) and then were shipped off to Ulster.

[rns]

Makes sense. Move them to the colonies. And they became the frontiersmen and Indian fighters in the Appalachian region during American colonial times.

Bout everyone in the Appalachian region is of scots-Irish descent.

[nataliebauer]

I'd love some information on the early formation of the Maxwell Clan.

[davidjohnston]

I’m a Johnston by birth but I’m a descendant of Lord Maxwell who was killed in the battle of Dryfe sands by the Johnston clan.

[moderntemplar]

You should do one about the Elliot’s and Hermaitage castle

[huwzebediahthomas]

Southern Scotland Brythonic tribal decedents, yes? Spoke a form of Brythonic similar to present day Welsh, as can be seen written on the plaque at Carter's Bar on the border road with Northumberland.

[michaelwhite]

My 3rd great grandmother was a Ellet who are a derivation of Elliott.

[stella]

I haven’t even been to Scotland yet! Love your stories and footage though. Happy New Year Steven Goch ! 🎊🎉2️⃣0️⃣2️⃣3️⃣🥂

[steveforster]

Northumberland born Canadian Forster proud of my Border Revier