The 700th anniversary of the Declaration of Arbroath

April 6, 2020 12:50 AM

A film to commemorate the Declaration of Arbroath, produced at speed by Lesley Riddoch and Charlie Stuart, including interviews with historians and readings by the public.

Text of the Declaration.

The COTR podcast has episodes on The Declaration and the two versions in the Book of Pluscarden.

Michael Brown writes about the significance of the Declaration: for the 650th anniversary, Officials advised that “in view of the great effort nationalists will put forth to make the celebrations a rallying point, we should seek perhaps to make our offerings seem adequate, but not excessive”.

Gerry Hassan writes that The Declaration of Arbroath is Alive and Kicking in Modern Scotland.

More information about the embroidered tapestry designed and sewn as part of the commemorations.

posted by paduasoy (3 comments total)

Thanks for posting this. I had not realised that the declaration - as we have it today - was apparently the third go at trying to get the pope's attention. This was at a time when each draft had to be laboriously agreed, drawn up, boxed and hand delivered to Avignon (?)- before undergoing a long wait for a reply. So it would be so interesting to see that the first and second attempts looked like.

The link with the American Declaration of Independence is often cited as having been influenced. But I have always imagined the French Revolution might owe some credit to the document too. Both the French and the Americans were seeking to overthrow kings and empower the people - but George III was part of a distant colonial power whereas Louis XVI was very much a local figure - one still considered to have divine right in France - who was going to have to not just be disobeyed but also disposed of.
posted by rongorongo at 2:13 AM on April 6, 2020

Happy 700th Anniversary!
posted by darkstar at 3:45 AM on April 6, 2020

The New Yorker on Arbroath.
posted by Chrysostom at 6:33 PM on April 6, 2020