The Inauguration of Scotland's Kings
Scottish Kingship from Pagan beginnings to the 14th century
May 27, 2009
The ceremony of inauguration which the Scots adhered to was one of the most ancient ceremonies of the British Isles. It had its roots in the pagan rites of electing a leader, but had distinctly Christian origins as well.
The first description we have of the ceremony is provided by Adomnan in his ‘Life of Columba’, which relates the inauguration of Aidan. We learn, from this, that the laying on of hands was a key element of the ceremony and, as the presence of a sceptre is also mentioned, we may assume that a sceptre was traditionally part of the honours of Scotland.
The Stone of Destiny
The Stone of Destiny is perhaps one of the most famous components of the Scots inauguration ceremony. It had clear pagan links, connecting the king closely with the land which he ruled.
The origin of the Stone and its association with the supremacy of the Scots and their resilience, formed part of the origin myth of the nation as a whole. Descriptions of its emergence from Egypt and its importance to the Scots were given in the Book of Pluscarden and by Fordun, who heralded the Stone as ‘the anchor of national existence’.
Edward I and The Honours of Scotland
Symbolising the essential concept of Scottish kingship, the Stone of Destiny was an obvious target for Edward I, who in his attempts to destroy Scotland’s position as an independent sovereignty, transferred significant items of the Scottish royal insignia to England.
In marked contrast to the coronation ceremonies of other European monarchs, in which the ecclesiastics played a central role, elevating the kings to the throne in a quasi-priestly manner, the Scottish ceremony was remarkably secular.
Right to Receive Unction
In the description of the inauguration of Alexander III, for example, the churchmen played only a minor role. Instead, the ceremony of fealty and the recitation of the King’s genealogy were accorded more significance. A key element of the European coronation ceremonies was, of course, the receiving of unction, which further emphasised the importance of the priestly function and which was absent from the Scottish inauguration ceremony until 1329.
Attempts to secure the right to receive unction were made by the 13th century kings, who were anxious that their inauguration ceremony and thus their kingship, should not appear inferior to those of other kings, particularly their English neighbours. Applications to the papacy were made in 1221 and 1223 and again in 1250-51, but were rebuffed, with opposition from Henry III of England and the Archbishop of York.
The receipt of unction carried a wealth of symbolism. The oil was holy chrism and distinguished the king from all other men. It signified God’s appointment and in the atmosphere of religious fervour, which characterised the Middle Ages, this was a vital mainstay of kingship.
Symbolic Importance of Inauguration
Each aspect of the ceremony of inauguration had its own peculiar symbolism. The coronet visually signified the king. The White Wand symbolised purity and truth. The Stone of Destiny demonstrated the continuity if the Scots and their closeness to the land which they ruled.
The presence of the Earl of Fife symbolised the Scots Celtic past, as Fife was traditionally leader of the Seven Ri or sub-kings, whose ancient rite was to elect the High King. Even the situation of the ceremony at Scone was significant, as this was the ancient capital of the Pictish kingdom. Brought together, the symbolic importance of the inauguration ceremony was immense.
Sources:
J. Cooper - Four Scottish Coronations (Transactions of the Aberdeen Ecclesiological Society and of the Glasgow Ecclesiological Society, 2007)
W. Ferguson – The Identity of the Scottish Nation: A Historic Quest (Edinburgh University Press, 1998)
G.W.S. Barrow – Kingship & Unity: Scotland 1000-1306 (Edinburgh University Press, 1989)
A. Grant – Independence & Nationhood (Edinburgh University Press, 1991)
F.J.H Skene – John of Fordun’s Chronicle of the Scottish Nation (Facsimile, 2008)
Adomnan of Iona – Life of St. Columba (Penguin Classics, 2005)
