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Flag of Scotland (traditional). According to legend, the flag dates back to a battle fought in CE 832 between the Picts and the Angles. It's said that the night before the battle, Saint Andrew, who was crucified on a diagonal cross in the 1st century CE, appeared to the Pictish king Oengus II and promised a victory. On the day of the battle, a white cross, resembling the cross of Saint Andrew, was seen against the blue sky, which was taken as a sign and inspired the Picts to victory.
848 - 1707

Kingdom of Scotland

From 848 to 1707, the Kingdom of Scotland evolved from a merger of the Pictish and Gaelic kingdoms of Dál Riata to become a distinct and powerful medieval realm. Throughout its history, Scotland faced invasions, political intrigues, and battles against external forces, notably the English during the Wars of Scottish Independence. Influential monarchs like Robert the Bruce and James IV strengthened the nation's identity. Despite experiencing periods of internal strife and political reformation, especially during the Protestant Reformation, the Kingdom maintained its sovereignty until 1707 when the Act of Union merged Scotland and England to create the Kingdom of Great Britain.

The Kingdom of Scotland can be seen as a continuation of earlier Pictland, given its historical and territorial evolution. Pictland, inhabited by the Picts, was one of the ancient kingdoms of the British Isles, occupying much of modern-day Scotland. By the early Middle Ages, Pictland witnessed increased interactions with the neighboring Gaelic kingdom of Dál Riata. In the 9th century, under the leadership of King Kenneth MacAlpin, a union of the Picts and the Gaels of Dál Riata is traditionally believed to have occurred.

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