1 October 1788: Deacon William Brodie is hanged at Edinburgh’s Tolbooth. The gallows he died upon were reportedly of his own design, adding a grim irony to his final moments. As a result, the man who inspired Jekyll and Hyde finally faced the consequences of his nocturnal crimes.
2 October 1263: King Håkon’s fleet is battered by a fierce storm, leading to the inconclusive skirmishes known as the Battle of Largs. The Norwegian king eventually retreats to Orkney, where he dies later that winter. Therefore, the Norse grip on the Western Isles begins to slip away forever.
3 October 1357: The Treaty of Berwick is signed, ending the Second War of Scottish Independence. This agreement secures the release of King David II from English captivity in exchange for a massive ransom. Consequently, Scotland begins a long and difficult period of financial struggle to pay for its king.
3 October 1594: The Battle of Glenlivet is fought between Catholic and Protestant forces in the Highlands. Despite being outnumbered, the Catholic Earl of Huntly secures a victory over the Earl of Argyll. Even so, the religious divide in Scotland continues to deepen.
4 October 1694: Lord George Murray is born at Huntingtower Castle near Perth. He would grow up to become a professional soldier and a key commander for Bonnie Prince Charlie. As a result, his tactical mind would later shape the early successes of the 1745 rising.
11 October 1760: Lord George Murray dies in exile in the Netherlands. After the disaster at Culloden, he was forced to flee his homeland and never returned. Therefore, one of the Jacobites’ most capable leaders ended his days far from the hills he fought to defend.
Friday, 13 October 1307: King Philip IV of France rounds up the Knights Templar to seize their immense wealth. This date is often cited as the origin of the “unlucky Friday the 13th” superstition. In Scotland, their assets are eventually transferred to the Knights Hospitaller at Torphichen Preceptory.
14 October 1285: Alexander III marries his second wife, Yolande de Dreux, at Jedburgh Abbey. Legend says a ghostly figure appeared during the wedding feast, foretelling the King’s early death. Consequently, the celebration was shadowed by an omen that would soon prove true.
14 October 1318: Edward Bruce, the younger brother of Robert the Bruce, is killed in battle in Ireland. He had been crowned High King of Ireland, but his death ended the Scottish attempt to create a second front against the English. As a result, the Bruce dynasty lost its most ambitious warrior.
15 October 1586: Mary Queen of Scots is tried for treason at Fotheringhay Castle. She defends herself with spirit, but the outcome is largely predetermined by the evidence of the Babington Plot. Therefore, the legal path to her execution is formally cleared.
20th October 1851: Patrick Sellar, the factor at the centre of the Highland Clearances dies in Elgin and is subsequently buried at Elgin Cathedral.
22 October 1589: James VI sails for Norway to collect his bride, Anne of Denmark, after her own fleet was driven back by storms. This journey across the North Sea would later fuel his obsession with witchcraft. Consequently, the King’s personal voyage had terrifying implications for many Scottish women.
25 October 1514: Bishop William Elphinstone dies in Edinburgh. He was the founder of the University of Aberdeen and a vital statesman for two Scottish kings. .
27 October 1327: Queen Elizabeth de Burgh, wife of Robert the Bruce, dies at Cullen Castle. In a strange funerary rite, her internal organs are buried at Cullen Old Kirk while the rest of her body is taken to Dunfermline Abbey. Thus, her memory is divided between two sacred sites.
28 October 1562: Mary Queen of Scots defeats the Earl of Huntly at the Battle of Corrichie. The victory curtails the power of the Catholic Gordons in the north and reassures her Protestant subjects. As a result, Mary demonstrates her willingness to strike down even her own co-religionists to maintain order.
31 October 1745: Charles Edward Stuart moves his army south from Edinburgh toward England. Many of his advisors prefer to stay in Scotland and wait for French aid, but the Prince insists on a bold advance. Consequently, the Jacobites begin the long march that will eventually lead them to Derby.
31 October 1765: The Duke of Cumberland, known as “Butcher Cumberland,” dies in London. His brutal pacification of the Highlands after Culloden earned him a reputation for cruelty that persists to this day.
31 October 1828: Police discover the final murder victim of Burke and Hare, leading to their immediate arrest. The discovery ended a year-long spree of killings intended to supply Edinburgh’s anatomy schools. Consequently, the city’s dark underworld was finally dragged into the light.
