Gaelic history and culture in mediaeval and sixteenth-century Lowland Scottish historiography
The subject of this study is attitudes towards Gaelic Scotland to be found in Lowland Scottish historiography of the late fourteenth to the late sixteenth century; the authors examined were John of Fordun, Andrew Wyntoun, Walter Bower, John Mair, Hector Boece, John Leslie and George Buchanan. In the first part of the thesis the historical works were examined with respect to the attitude of each individual author towards the Highlanders of his own time. It was found that the earlier authors - i.e. Fordun, Wyntoun, Bower and Mair - mirror anti-Highland feeling and prejudice that were widespread in their own Lowland surroundings. They further the image of the Highlander as a savage. The later authors, by contrast, look upon their Gaelic contemporaries from a humanistic, or rather, 'primitivistic', point of view: to them the Gaelic Scots with their simple way of life represent the virtuous and noble customs and traditions of the Scottish forefathers. The second part of the thesis was concerned with the historians' presentation of Gaelic kings and kingship. Special attention was paid to their understanding of the Gaelic succession law; here, a lack of comprehension could be noted among the authors, which led to
MorĂ©t, Ulrike
National characteristics, Scottish ; Lowlands (Scotland) ; Highlands (Scotland)
Gaelic history and culture in mediaeval and sixteenth-century Lowland Scottish historiography. The subject of this study is attitudes towards Gaelic Scotland to be found in Lowland Scottish historiography of the late fourteenth to the late sixteenth century; the authors examined were John of Fordun, Andrew Wyntoun, Walter Bower, John Mair, Hector Boece, John Leslie and George Buchanan. In the first part of the thesis the historical works were examined with respect to the attitude of each individual author towards the Highlanders of his own time. It was found that the earlier authors - i.e. Fordun, Wyntoun, Bower and Mair - mirror anti-Highland feeling and prejudice that were widespread in their own Lowland surroundings. They further the image of the Highlander as a savage. The later authors, by contrast, look upon their Gaelic contemporaries from a humanistic, or rather, 'primitivistic', point of view: to them the Gaelic Scots with their simple way of life represent the virtuous and noble customs and traditions of the Scottish forefathers. The second part of the thesis was concerned with the historians' presentation of Gaelic kings and kingship. Special attention was paid to their understanding of the Gaelic succession law; here, a lack of comprehension could be noted among the authors, which led to
gaelic history culture mediaeval sixteenth_century lowland scottish historiography subject study attitude_towards gaelic scotland find lowland scottish historiography author examine john john john george first_part historical_work examine respect attitude individual author towards highlanders time find earlier author mirror anti highland feeling prejudice widespread lowland surroundings image later author contrast look upon gaelic contemporary humanistic rather point_view gaelic scots simple way_life represent virtuous noble custom tradition scottish second_part concern historian presentation gaelic kings kingship special_attention_pay gaelic succession law lack comprehension could note among author lead