89-457: Clan Eliott is a Border Reiver Scottish clan . The origins of the Eliotts is surrounded in obscurity. The Eliotts suddenly appear as a distinct clan with a chief in the late 15th century. The lack of information is believed to be due to the destruction of their old castle at Stobs in a fire in 1712. All of the family documents, with one exception were lost in the fire. According to tradition
178-475: A Baronet of Nova Scotia by Charles II of England . He became chief of the Clan Eliott in 1673. In 1764 the third Baronet remodelled the old Tower of Stobs into a mansion house. His second son was George Augustus Eliott who was rewarded for a spirited defense of Gibraltar in 1782. A branch of the chief's family acquired the lands of Minto in 1703. Gilbert Elliot-Murray-Kynynmound, 1st Earl of Minto
267-595: A Scottish tract of land that curiously lies on the English side of the River Tweed , is one such example. This threipland became the subject of an annual game of football, whose result determined temporary control of the land. Over time, Coldstream's growing population allowed it to field far more players than Wark, leading to the land being informally absorbed into Scotland. The Anglo-Scottish Borders were marked by overlapping systems of administration and law, creating
356-541: A case involving Hugh de Bolbec, a Northumbrian knight. A meeting near Carham on the Tweed attempted to establish "the true and ancient marches between the two kingdoms". Six knights from each side were appointed to walk the border line, but the Scottish and English representatives disagreed at every step. A second attempt expanded the parties to twelve knights per side, with additional servants and men-at-arms processing through
445-713: A closely related word, comes from the Middle English reven . There also exists a Northumbrian and Scots verb reifen . All three derive from Old English rēafian which means "to rob, plunder, pillage". Variants of these words were used in the Borders in the later Middle Ages. The corresponding verb in Dutch is "(be)roven", and "(be)rauben" in German. The earliest use of the combined term "border reiver" appears to be by Sir Walter Scott in his anthology Minstrelsy of
534-474: A crest badge as a brooch , generally worn on the left side, and as such the crest badge may be made of gold. There are established clans which do not have a chief recognised by the Lord Lyon King of Arms. In such cases, clan members usually wear a crest badge which contains the crest and motto of the last known chief. However, there are instances where such clans wear crest badges which are based upon
623-432: A feeble or distant monarch and reliance on the effectiveness of the law usually made people a target for depredations rather than conferring any security. There were other factors which may have promoted a predatory mode of living in parts of the Borders. A system of partible inheritance is evident in some parts of the English side of the Borders in the sixteenth century. By contrast to primogeniture , this meant that land
712-643: A framework of legally sanctioned violence. Many crimes, such as theft and feuding, were treated with less severity due to the ancient customs and culture of the Borderlands, which had evolved over centuries to tolerate and even codify such practices. Although less well-known than Highlanders in Scotland—whom they met and defeated in battle on occasion —the Border Reivers played a significant role in shaping Anglo-Scottish relations. Their activities were
801-475: A major factor in ongoing tensions between the two kingdoms, and their raids often had international repercussions. There is an emerging historical debate over how great their threat and the extent to which their raids were state-directed rather than purely opportunistic. The culture of the Border Reivers—characterised by honour , close family bonds, and self-defence—has been said to influence
890-605: A male heir. The crest badge used by clan members consists of a crest encircled by a strap and buckle containing a motto. The crest is a raised fist holding a sword, while the motto is FORTITER ET RECTE (translation from Latin: "Boldly and Rightly"). Border Reivers Border reivers were raiders along the Anglo-Scottish border sometime around the end of the First War of Scottish Independence . They included both Scottish and English people, and they raided
979-416: A new layer of governance that often clashed with local traditions, further complicating loyalties and creating a fragmented political landscape. The Wars of Scottish Independence played a key role in this transformation of the Borders, fostering and forcing a growing sense of national belonging that extended across social, cultural and linguistic groups. However, alongside this burgeoning national identity,
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#17327801884241068-481: A patchwork of competing jurisdictions. On the English side, noble families, ecclesiastical authorities, and state officials held varying degrees of power, often clashing over jurisdiction. Secular liberties like Tynedale and Redesdale operated semi-independently, granting local lords significant autonomy to enforce laws and defend their territories. Religious influence was prominent in Hexhamshire , governed by
1157-507: A persistent feature of the borderlands, punctuating periods of truce. These ranged from smaller skirmishes to occasional large-scale raids, such as the Battle of Otterburn (1388) and Homildon Hill (1402), which occasionally escalated into significant but localised conflicts. Both kingdoms sought to maintain periods of relative calm through truce agreements and diplomatic efforts, though these efforts were often fragile and difficult to enforce in
1246-644: A prize of war and a continued focal point of Anglo-Scottish tensions. The Anglo-Scottish border was not fully demarcated until the mid-19th century, when the Ordnance Survey mapped the area in detail. Even as late as this period, some lands, such as Kirkholm Common, were still considered by locals to be threipland. Locals regarded it as shared communal ground, with its historical status as contested land lingering in local tradition. Other disputed areas were resolved through less formal means. The Ba Green (or Ba' Green or Ball Green) near Wark and Coldstream ,
1335-820: A right to it, not just clan societies and clan society members. According to the Court of the Lord Lyon , clan membership goes with the surname. However, some people who do not bear a clan surname wear the crest badge of their mother's clan, and anyone who offers allegiance to a clan chief is a member of that clan (unless the chief decides to refuse that person's allegiance). Many people bear names that, while not actual clan surnames, are sept names or associated names of certain clans. Surnames such as Smith , Wright , Fletcher , and Miller are examples of names that are associated names of many clans (as every clan would have its own smiths , wrights, fletchers , and millers ). It
1424-583: A shared border identity also emerged, rooted in the unique cultural and legal practices of the region. This shared identity coexisted with a lingering sense of Otherness, as the borders remained distinct from the centralised identities of both nations, shaped by their unique history and violent reputation, and the persistent influence of local loyalties. Efforts to define the Anglo-Scottish border often proved contentious and inconclusive. By 1245, territorial disputes remained unresolved, as demonstrated in
1513-432: A small-scale invasion of England, attempting to capitalise on the ongoing tensions between England and Scotland. The invasion, however, was poorly supported and ultimately failed to achieve any significant objectives. Crest badge A Scottish crest badge is a heraldic badge worn to show allegiance to an individual or membership in a specific Scottish clan . Crest badges are commonly called "clan crests", but this
1602-487: A strap and buckle show they are members of the chief's clan (family). There are established clans that do not have chiefs recognised by the Lord Lyon King of Arms . In such cases, clan members sometimes wear the crest badge of the last known chief. Some clans wear crest badges derived from the arms of individuals who were never recognised as clan chiefs. Although so-called "clan crests" are commonly bought and sold,
1691-429: A strap and buckle, which indicates that the wearer is a follower of the individual who owns the crest and motto. An armiger who is entitled to the heraldic elements may wear a crest badge that incorporates a circlet . Crest badges are commonly worn by members of Scottish clans. These badges usually consist of elements from the clan chief 's coat of arms. Clan members who wear their chief's crest and motto surrounded by
1780-519: A strategically important town on the Anglo-Scottish border, changed hands multiple times during the medieval period, reflecting its contested status between England and Scotland. The town was alternately controlled by each kingdom, with significant captures in 1174, 1296, and 1318, among others. Its turbulent history culminated in 1482 when it was seized by Richard, Duke of Gloucester (later Richard III), and thereafter remained under English administration. Berwick's frequent exchanges highlight its role as both
1869-452: Is "Out with the sword" John Turnbull , who flourished around the turn of the 15th century. He was a member of the powerful Turnbull family in Minto in the borders, and he earned his nickname for his reputation of being quick to escalate arguments into violence. Remarkably, John Turnbull's nickname is perhaps the only surviving example of an early 15th-century border reiver nickname. Around
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#17327801884241958-461: Is a misnomer ; there is no such thing as a collective clan crest, just as there is no such thing as a clan coat of arms . Crest badges consist of a heraldic crest and a motto / slogan . These elements are heraldic property and protected by law in Scotland. Crest badges may be worn by anyone, but those who are not legally entitled to the heraldic elements wear a crest badge that incorporates
2047-401: Is no ancient tradition of this; it is solely based upon the fact that anciently feudal barons were most likely to have been chiefs or chieftains. If the feudal baron is a member of a clan, it is advisable to consult the clan chief on clan customs and traditions. The Lord Lyon only gives guidance and not governance on the wearing of feathers and recommends consulting with a clan chief, who approves
2136-495: Is the representer of the family's founder. A clan chief must be recognised as such by the Lord Lyon King of Arms, and must possess the undifferenced arms of their name. Clan chiefs may wear their crest simpliciter , that is without being encircled by the motto and without any feathers. It is more common, however, for a clan chiefs to wear their own personal crest within a plain circlet inscribed with their motto or slogan ( pictured left ). The chief's crest badge does not contain
2225-411: Is up to individuals to explore their personal ancestry and discovery the correct clan that they belong to. Scottish crest badges may contain the following elements: Clan chiefs, clan chieftains , armigerous clan members, and un-armigerous clan members may wear crest badges. However, there are differences in the type of crest badge they wear. A clan chief is the head of his or her clan/family, and
2314-694: The Archbishops of York , and in the County Palatine of Durham (which included the exclaves of Norhamshire and Islandshire on the frontier), ruled by the Prince Bishops , who held powers comparable to those of a king, including raising armies and collecting taxes. The Earls of Northumberland , based in Alnwick , were another major force, holding substantial military and administrative influence over northern England. The legal framework of
2403-492: The Battle of Bannockburn in 1314 and appeared to further worsen after a severe famine in 1315–1317 and a failed campaign in 1322. The anarchy that followed created conditions where both organised and independent bands of Scottish armed men, along with opportunistic English bands, raided as far as Yorkshire, devastating the land not only through plunder but also widespread burning. Among the English raiders were known Schavaldours, some of whom were led by local nobility, including
2492-547: The Battle of Carham in 1018, where Scottish forces secured control over Lothian , fundamentally altering the northern boundary of England. The Norman Conquest (1066) further destabilised the borders, as the end of the Anglo-Saxon Kingdom of England and the subsequent Normanisation of Scottish nobility introduced new complexities brought in by David I of Scotland . Following the Norman Conquest,
2581-400: The Court of the Lord Lyon , to be relatives of their clan chief. They can be either immediate family or extended family. Clan members can also be people who only bear the "clan surname" or a sept name associated with the clan. The Court of the Lord Lyon has also stated that anyone who professes allegiance to both the clan and its chief can be considered a clan member. All clan members may wear
2670-608: The Ellots (as the name was originally spelled) came from the foot of Glenshie in Angus and that they moved to Teviotdale during the time of Robert the Bruce . Such a move would have been exceptional; however an event in 1320 gives some credence to the story. In 1320 William de Soulis , one of Scotland's most powerful nobles was convicted of treason against Robert the Bruce. He was imprisoned for life and his lands of Liddesdale along with
2759-561: The First War of Scottish Independence and around the end of the Wars of the Roses , though the development of fortified self-defence measures appears to have commenced earlier in England during the 14th century, particularly at the height of the Wars of Independence . Although there were long-term truces after the Wars of Scottish Independence and relatively few official cross-border raids,
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2848-781: The Union of the Crowns marked the end of the border reivers. Many people were executed and many of the Borderers found new lives in Ulster when much of that province was colonised. Robert Eliott of Redheugh left his broad lands in Liddesdale and went into exile in Fife . The use of the letter "i" in the Ellot surname was introduced in about 1650. In 1666 Sir Gillbert Eliott of Stobs was created
2937-965: The surname McEwen . Oddly enough, the McEwen Baronets may not have any actual link with the main Clan MacEwen at all. Another instance is the crest badge of Clan MacInnes . This crest badge is based upon a modern coat of arms of an armigerous clan member, not a clan chief. According to the English officers of arms John Martin Robinson and Thomas Woodcock , crests have played a relatively insignificant role in Scottish heraldry when compared to English heraldry . In consequence, many Scottish armigers, including clan chiefs, have comparatively similar crests to one another. Because of this, crest badges can sometimes show an obvious association with another clan. For example, clans associated with
3026-532: The Anglo-Scottish border in the west remained unclear. William Rufus , son of William the Conqueror , expelled Dolfin , a descendant of the Anglo-Saxon Earls of Northumbria, from Cumberland and fortified Carlisle to secure the region. However, during the period of civil war known as The Anarchy (1135–1153), David I of Scotland exploited the instability and advanced southward into northern England. In
3115-412: The Anglo-Scottish border region during the 12th and 13th centuries were shaped by a highly mixed population, but the ruling elite was predominantly composed of Norman , Flemish , and Breton incomers. These newcomers were granted lands and titles as knights or lords, establishing castles and controlling large demesnes. Some of these demesnes crossed the unclear boundary between England and Scotland during
3204-555: The Anglo-Scottish border remained a hotspot for raiding, feuding, and political tensions. Barely had ink dried in 1357 before the Warden of the West March Thomas de Lucy was accused on one occasion of imprisoning Scots for the purpose of ransom. And on another occasion, with collusion with the men of Eskdale , there was a theft of several thousand animals and £20 (a not insignificant sum in those days). Raiding continued as
3293-545: The Borders was devastated by the contending armies. Even when the countries were not formally at war, tension remained high, and royal authority in either or both kingdoms was often weak, particularly in remote locations. The difficulty and uncertainties of basic human survival meant that communities and/or people kindred to each other would seek security through group strength and cunning. They would attempt to improve their livelihoods at their nominal enemies' expense, enemies who were frequently also just trying to survive. Loyalty to
3382-525: The Borders, the period soon saw growing tensions between the two monarchs and an increase in banditry, as the fragile truces often proved difficult to enforce. In 1495 the pretender to the English crown, Perkin Warbeck became a guest of James IV and raids resumed on both sides of the Border with renewed intensity, disrupting the fragile peace established earlier. In the following year, Perkin Warbeck led
3471-487: The Chattan Confederation share very similar crest badges bearing wild cats . Clans associated with Clan MacTavish —Clan Campbell of Breadalbane, Clan MacIver and Clan Campbell — use a crest badges which contain similar crests and mottoes that allude to that of the chief of Clan MacTavish. A person does not need to be a member of a clan society to be able to wear a crest badge. Any clan member has
3560-550: The English knights unilaterally declared the defined line to be "the true and ancient marches and divisions", despite the lack of mutual agreement. Throughout the period, various territories remained disputed due to unresolved claims, particularly lands referred to as threiplands (Scottish for "conflict lands"). While many of these areas were smaller tracts of contested ground, some, like the Debatable Lands , were far more significant. This expansive area, which lay between
3649-529: The Kingdom of England expanded its territory to include much of southern Scotland, and deprioritised the governance and defence of the traditional Anglo-Scottish Border region. The assumption was that the "new" border further north, as dictated by the Treaty of Newcastle (1334), would eliminate the need to maintain the old border systems, such as March law and its associated offices. However, this miscalculation left
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3738-484: The Lilburns, Swinburnes, de Eures, and Middletons, while others consisted of mercenaries or former soldiers, such as the infamous Jack le Irish. Different branches of English Border noble families, for example the aforementioned Swinburnes, often found themselves fighting on opposing sides, some due to land ownership in Scotland, others opportunistically, and some because they held genuine Scottish sympathies. The violence
3827-465: The Scottish Border . George Ridpath (1716?–1772), the author of posthumously published The Border-History of England and Scotland, deduced from the earliest times to the union of the two crowns (London, 1776), referred not to 'border reivers' but only to banditti . Scotland and England were frequently at war during the late Middle Ages . During these wars, the livelihood of the people on
3916-615: The Second Treaty of Durham (1139), King Stephen granted the Earldom of Northumbria—encompassing Carlisle , Cumberland , Westmorland , and Lancashire north of the Ribble —to David's son, Prince Henry . These territories were later reclaimed, and David's successor, Malcolm IV , was forced to cede them. Since then, the Anglo-Scottish border has remained largely unchanged, with only minor adjustments. Land ownership and governance in
4005-582: The Tweed Valley, but it too ended without agreement. A third effort involved 48 knights, who swore an oath to trace the border. The English knights proposed a line running from the confluence of Reddenburn and the Tweed, south to Tres Karras and Hopperichlawe (now lost), and then to Whitelaw Hill in the Cheviot Hills. However, the Scottish knights opposed this perambulation with threats, and tensions escalated. Lacking further resources to continue,
4094-530: The War of Scottish Independence, and this later contributed to tensions and disputes over land ownership and jurisdiction. While the majority of the population were probably local inhabitants—whether Anglian in the east, Brythonic in the west, or Gaelic in south-west Scotland—these communities would have been governed primarily by the newly established ruling class. This complex situation resulted in overlapping cultural, linguistic, and feudal identities. On both sides of
4183-530: The agreement, raiding resumed the following year. During the so-called 'Gloucester'a War', The Earl of Angus led a deep raid into the East March, prompting a retaliatory campaign by Richard, Duke of Gloucester, who launched a raid into Scotland. This outbreak of violence was short-lived, concluding by 1484. Notably, this brief conflict was significant for one key reason: it marked the final time Berwick-upon-Tweed changed hands, solidifying English control over
4272-404: The arms of someone who was never a recognised clan chief. For example, Clan Macfie , which current does not have a chief, uses a crest badge which is derived from the arms of one of the first two Macfies who registered Arms at Lyon Court. Another clan — Clan MacEwen — whose chiefly line has been untraced since the 15th century, has a crest badge containing the crest and motto of a baronet bearing
4361-632: The badge in a show of allegiance to their clan and clan chief. It is illegal for a clan member to misappropriate the chief's crest and motto in acts such as decorating silverware or inscriptions on signet rings and jewellery. In short, coats of arms , crests and mottos are the personal property of one person only, and in terms of "clan crests", they are the property of the clan chief. Crest badges are specifically used for people to wear, and they are made out of silver or white metal. When illustrated, crest badges should only be printed in monochrome , and they should not be coloured. Women are entitled to wear
4450-470: The battle losses on both sides were heavy but eventually the two clans came to terms with each other. Another feud took place between the Ellots and James Hepburn, 4th Earl of Bothwell , the future husband of Mary, Queen of Scots . A skirmish took place around Hermitage Castle in which the earl was wounded. In reprisal, in 1569, a royal force of nearly four thousand men devastated the Ellot's lands. In 1603
4539-615: The chief's three ). On certain occasions real eagle feathers may be worn behind the crest badge. If a clan chieftain is a member of the British Peerage or a feudal baron they are permitted to wear the appropriate coronet or baronial chapeau above the circlet on their crest badge. Clan chieftains may also wear the crest badge of their chief, in the same manner as an un-armigerous clan member (see Un-armigerous clan members below). Recently, feudal barons have taken to wearing two eagle feathers behind their armiger's badge, but there
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#17327801884244628-477: The circlet (or on certain occasions a real eagle feather). If an Armiger is a member of the British Peerage or a feudal baron they are permitted to wear the appropriate coronet or baronial chapeau above the circlet on their crest badge. If an armiger is a member of a Scottish clan, they may wear the crest badge of their chief, however it must be encircled by a strap and buckle (see Un-armigerous clan members below). Members of Scottish clans are considered, by
4717-441: The circlet on their crest badge, though this is a matter of personal preference. Clan chieftains are the representers of large branches of a Scottish clan. They are officially recognised as clan chieftains by the Lord Lyon King of Arms. Clan chieftains, like clan chiefs, may wear their own personal crest within a plain circlet inscribed with their own motto or slogan. Clan chieftains may also wear two small eagle feathers (unlike
4806-627: The conflict, with the Nevilles aligning more successfully with the Yorkist cause. This strategic advantage allowed the Nevilles to claim the Percy earldom in 1463 following the Percys’ poor choice of allegiance. Despite the ongoing civil war between the houses of Lancaster and York, truces with Scotland were maintained and periodically renewed. A 40-year truce was agreed upon in 1479. However, despite
4895-523: The contested border regions. The Percy family , Earls of Northumberland , played a significant role in the conflicts that destabilised England. The Percys first rebelled against King Henry IV during the early 15th century, joining forces with Owain Glyndŵr and Edmund Mortimer in the Tripartite Indenture , a plan to divide England and Wales between them. Led by Sir Henry "Hotspur" Percy ,
4984-587: The culture of the Deep South in the United States. Many Borderers migrated as families to America, where their values are thought to have contributed significantly to the region's social structure and political ideologies, with echoes of their influence persisting even today. Reive , a noun meaning raid, comes from the Middle English (Scots) reifen. The verb reave meaning "plunder, rob",
5073-628: The destabilising effects of gavelkind —a system of inheritance that divided land equally among male heirs—led to the gradual impoverishment of many border families, forcing them to seek other means of survival, often through smuggling and raiding. The growing prominence of surnames in the liberties during this period reflected the rise of family identities tied to raiding and feuding, with leading figures or "heidsmen" representing these powerful groups. The immunity granted by King Edward allowed these families to operate almost with impunity, as they were shielded from confiscation or meaningful retribution. Although
5162-736: The early medieval period of what is know th Anglo-Scottish borders. These poetic accounts hint at a long-standing culture of raiding and conflict in the northern British territories. Laws of the Marches, or Leges Marchiarum , first formally codified in 1249 , offers a significant insight into the long-standing legal and social structures designed to manage the unique challenges of the Anglo-Scottish Border. This legal framework addressed not only diplomatic relations between England and Scotland but also sought to regulate banditry, cross-border smuggling, and feuding. Its provisions included
5251-470: The eastern borders this reflected the Anglian heritage of the former Kingdom of Northumbria, while the western borders, particularly within Scotland, included Brythonic-speaking descendants of Old Cumbria and with a number of Gaelic-speaking communities in south-west Scotland. The integration of these groups under predominantly Norman, Flemish, and Breton lords across the border introduced a dual identity and
5340-507: The entire border country without regard to their victims' nationality. They operated in a culture of legalised raiding and feuding. Their heyday was in the last hundred years of their existence, during the time of the House of Stuart in the Kingdom of Scotland and the House of Tudor in the Kingdom of England . The term "Border Reiver" is an exonym and anachronistic term used to describe
5429-448: The era also saw the end of the militarised border. The Union of the Crowns in 1603, when James VI of Scotland succeeded to the English throne as James I, marked the end of centuries of conflict between the two kingdoms. Henry VII and James IV were initially cordial, encouraged the Border courts and reminded the Border magnates of their obligation to maintain truce. However, despite this initial cordiality and relative peace along
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#17327801884245518-447: The great fortress of Hermitage Castle were made over to Bruce's illegitimate son, Robert Bruce, Lord of Liddesdale . Bruce would have needed to ensure his hold on such a strategically important frontier by encouraging the settlement of a loyal and tested clan - such as the Ellots . It is known that Ellot of Redheugh was living in the early 1400s. In 1426 John Elwalde of Teviotdale is recorded. In 1476 Robert Ellot of Redheugh appears as
5607-407: The heraldic crest and motto belong to the chief alone and never to the individual clan member. Crest badges, much like clan tartans , do not have a long history and owe much to Victorian era romanticism , having only been worn on the bonnet since the 19th century. The original badges used by clans are said to have been specific plants worn in bonnets or hung from a pole or spear. Although
5696-418: The immunity was later officially rescinded, its implementation within the liberties appears to have been almost entirely absent. A lack of enforcement allowed the raiding culture to flourish, entrenching the fragmented and combative nature of the borderlands during the years leading to the emergence of the infamous Tudor surnames. Following the defeat of Edward Balliol at the Battle of Halidon Hill in 1333,
5785-526: The laws as originating "from a time which memory does not exist," implying that aspects of March law may predate the Norman Conquest. However, the extent to which these laws derive from pre-Norman customs remains a topic of scholarly debate. An earlier rendition of banditry may have been the bands of armed men who first appeared on the Borders in the early 14th century, then known as the Schavaldours (also spelled shavaldour, shavaldor, or shavaldor) during
5874-574: The level of autonomy or legal power seen in England. Despite these differences, both nations faced persistent challenges in governing the borderlands, where local power dynamics frequently overruled central authority. The roots of cattle raiding and banditry in the Border region can perhaps be traced even further back. The earliest references to such behaviour appear in the Old Welsh ( Hen Ogledd ) poems attributed to bards such as Taliesin , Aneirin and Llywarch Hen which describe battles and raids in
5963-627: The number of feathers worn by members of the clan for clan events. In terms of Scottish Heraldry, an armiger is someone who has registered his or her own coat of arms, or has inherited a coat of arms according to the Laws of Arms in Scotland from an ancestor who had arms recorded in the Lyon Register. Armigers, like clan chiefs and chieftains, may wear their own personal crest within a plain circlet inscribed with their own motto or slogan. Armigers are permitted to wear one silver eagle feather behind
6052-586: The official end of the Wars of Scottish Independence, but it did not end the raiding and lawlessness along the border. By thene, such practices had become deeply ingrained in the culture and livelihood of the borderers, and persisted despite the formal cessation of hostilities between the two kingdoms. Between the end of the Wars of Scottish Independence (1357) and the Battle of Flodden (1513) there were intermittent peace agreements and an uneasy balance of power between England and Scotland. While no major wars erupted,
6141-467: The original border region increasingly lawless, as local governance systems were abandoned, and the territory to the north remained de facto under Scottish resistance and control. This vacuum of authority contributed to the instability and lawlessness of the borderlands. David II's reign was marked by continued conflict with England during the Second War of Scottish Independence. In 1346, David II
6230-405: The proliferation of more humble fortified structures such as bastle houses and pele towers across the Anglo-Scottish borderland underscores the enduring instability of the region; they responded to persistent threats of raiding and violence, which continued even during periods of nominal peace. Elaborate nicknames , for which the border reivers were known, emerged early: the earliest known example
6319-563: The raiders and bandits who operated along the Anglo-Scottish Border during the late Middle Ages and early modern period. The reivers, as we understand today, emerged in textual and archaeological evidence sometime between 1350 and 1450, with their activities reaching their height in the 16th century during the Tudor period in England and the late Stewart period in Scotland. They were infamous for raiding, eliciting protection money ('blackmail'), cattle rustling, and lawlessness, often operating within
6408-465: The rebellion culminated in the Battle of Shrewsbury (1403) , where Hotspur was killed. Despite two further rebellions, the 2nd Earl of Northumberland was restored as Warden of the Marches by Henry V. During this period, the Percy family consolidated their power in the north, notably absorbing the liberty of Redesdale from the Umfraville to Tailboys vassals in 1436. Despite this growing authority and
6497-476: The region was equally fragmented, with March law addressing cross-border disputes and raids, while state law and ecclesiastical law functioned in parallel. Disputes often arose between Wardens of the Marches , Keepers of the liberties, and local sheriffs, reflecting the constant struggle to impose order in this turbulent region. A similar system of overlapping jurisdictions existed on the Scottish side, though their liberties, known as regalities, generally lacked
6586-581: The responsibilities of the Wardenship, reports of "numerous robbers and felons called Intakers [receivers of stolen goods] and Outputters [smugglers]" continued to trouble the region. During the Wars of the Roses, the Percy family expanded their influence in the eastern regions, while the Neville family grew in power in Cumbria, fostering a bitter rivalry. The two families supported opposing factions in
6675-413: The return of fugitives, the recovery of debts, and the production of accused parties at designated trysting places along the border, such as Reddenburn near Kelso. These trysting places served as neutral meeting points for resolving disputes under the framework of March law. The formulation of March law followed a meeting in 1248 between six English knights and six Scottish knights, and the resulting code
6764-400: The rivers Esk and Sark , was the subject of contention until 1552, when its status was finally settled. Originally referred to as the "Batable Land"—a term derived from its use as fertile grazing ground—the territory was notable for an agreement allowing both English and Scottish borderers to graze cattle during the day, despite prohibitions on permanent settlement. Berwick-upon-Tweed ,
6853-482: The same time, the liberties of Tynedale and Redesdale were undergoing significant changes that would shape the emergence of surnames as a defining feature of border society. During Edward III 's reign, the men of these liberties were granted immunity from land confiscation. This was not a continuation of earlier practices like March law, but a deliberate concession by Edward III, designed to secure their loyalty and military support during his campaigns in Scotland . At
6942-525: The same time, there were longstanding complaints to the Keepers of the Liberties about their failure to hand over criminals to the courts, as the liberties often provided sanctuary for raiders and fugitives. What had long operated as a de facto arrangement of protection for certain individuals appears to have been formalised into a de jure status through Edward II's policy. This immunity, combined with
7031-472: The strap and buckle that other clan members are permitted to wear. Clan chiefs are also entitled to wear three eagle feathers behind the circlet of their crest badge. On certain occasions, such as clan gatherings, it may be appropriate to use real eagle feathers. Clan chiefs that are members of the British Peerage or a feudal baron are entitled to wear the appropriate coronet or baronial chapeau above
7120-452: The strategic town. Additionally, it saw the Duke of Albany cede control over much of South West Scotland, although this concession proved short-lived, with the territory returning to Scottish hands not long after.. The Tudor period is often regarded as the heyday of the Border Reivers, characterised by persistent raiding, feuding, and lawlessness perhaps the worst the Borders had seen. However,
7209-488: The tenth chief of the clan. From that time onwards the formal history of the clan can be said to have begun. Robert Ellot built a strong tower on a cliff overlooking the ford on Hermitage Water in 1470. This was just one of about one hundred strong towers that were dotted around Liddesdale which belonged to the Ellots and which they shared with the Clan Armstrong who were another Border Reiver clan. Robert Ellot,
7298-418: The term "clan crest" is most commonly used, it is a misnomer. There is in fact no such thing as a clan crest. Although it is possible to purchase "clan crests", and the crest badge itself can be owned by a clan member, the heraldic crest and motto of the badge belong to the chief alone and never the clan member. The crest and motto are the sole property of the chief, and clan members are only permitted to wear
7387-462: The thirteenth chief was killed at the Battle of Flodden in 1513. The Eliotts supported Scott of Buccleuch at the Battle of Melrose in 1526. However, in 1565 a deadly feud arose between the Ellots and their neighbours, the Clan Scott . Scott of Buccleuch executed four Ellots for the minor crime of cattle rustling. In response three hundred Ellots rode to avenge the fate of their kinsmen. During
7476-505: The unstable rule of Edward II of England . The term was first recorded in 1313, when Richard de Kellawe, then Bishop of Durham, requested to be excused from levying any money from the goods of the parson of Whickham, citing the damage caused by "Schavadours and plunderers." The Schavaldours, like the later (and anachronistically named) Border Reivers, were often pressed into service during cross-border wars, such as those in 1350. The problem of banditry grew worse following Edward II's loss at
7565-515: Was a diplomat who served in Corsica and Vienna . He later became Governor General of Bengal . The chief of Clan Eliott is Madam Margaret Eliott of Redheugh, 29th Chief of the Name and Arms of Eliott. The present chief is the daughter of Sir Arthur Eliott, eleventh baronet and twenty-eighth chief of Clan Eliott. There is no bar on females succeeding to Scottish chiefships but the baronetcy passed to
7654-546: Was captured by English forces at the Battle of Neville's Cross and held prisoner in England for 11 years. His release was secured in 1357 through an agreement made in Berwick, which required Scotland to pay a massive ransom of 100,000 marks (£66,666 13s 4d) over ten years. Despite efforts to rebuild his authority upon returning to Scotland, David's reign remained plagued by internal divisions, financial difficulties, and periodic clashes with England. This Treaty of Berwick marked
7743-445: Was divided equally among all sons following a father's death; it could mean that the inheriting generation held insufficient land on which to survive. The Anglo-Scottish borders were shaped by centuries of territorial disputes, cultural integration, and overlapping systems of governance, resulting in one of the most administratively complex regions of medieval Britain. The origins of this complexity can be traced back to key events like
7832-440: Was formally promulgated the following year. Between 1249 and 1596, the laws of the marches were reviewed and recodified on at least eight occasions, reflecting their enduring importance in managing Border relations. The legal traditions referenced in these codes draw upon "the ancient laws and customs of the land," and some of the language, such as "handwasil" and "manbote," suggests Anglo-Saxon origins. The document itself refers to
7921-402: Was not only international but also intranational and intrafamilial, adding further complexity to the chaos of the time. While the term 'Schalvadours' disappears from records by the late 14th century, the violence and lawlessness that characterised the Border region continued for centuries. The emergence of what we now understand as "border reivers" can be traced to sometime between the end of
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