Edinburgh City Guide - History

626 Edinburgh, known as 'Fort of Edin', 'Edwinburgh' or 'Dunedin' (meaning 'fort on the hill') is founded by Edwin of Northumbria
1018 Malcom II defeats the Northumbrians and confirms Edinburgh as a Scottish town
1128 Holyrood Abbey is founded by David I
1296 Edinburgh Castle is sacked by the English king, Edward I
1313 The Scots recapture Edinburgh Castle
1322 Holyrood Abbey is sacked by the English
1368 Rebuilding of castle starts
1498 Palace of Holyroodhouse is founded
1513 Many Edinburgh men die at the Battle of Flodden Field
1560 The French abandon all claim to Scotland in the Treaty of Edinburgh
1566 Rizzio, secretary of Mary Queen of Scots, is murdered at the Palace of Holyroodhouse
1583 Edinburgh University is founded
1650 Execution of the Royalist Montrose
1707 Power moves from Edinburgh to Westminster in the Act of Union
1711 David Hume, philosopher and historian, is born in Edinburgh
1723 Adam Smith, political economist, is born in Edinburgh
1745 Bonnie Prince Charlie arrives in the city
1767 Building of Edinburgh New Town starts
1771 Walter Scott, novelist, is born in Edinburgh
1810 Completion of the first New Town
1846 A rail link between Edinburgh and London is completed
1850 Robert Louis Stevenson is born in Edinburgh
1947 First Edinburgh Festival
1966 Heriot-Watt University is founded
1999 New Scottish Parliament opens