Arbroath Abbey
Birthplace of Scotland
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Why Should I Declare My Support ?
A Little Bit of History
Arbroath is a shortened form of Aberbrothoc, the original Pictish name meaning the mouth of the eruptive burn. The original parish church was at St Vigeans from the Pictish name for the Irish Saint Fechin who died in the year 664, and who was commemorated on the 20th January. St Vigeans has a charming church of red sandstone and a fine collection of Pictish sculptured stones displayed in the village museum.
The Arbroath Abbey
In the year 1178, King William I founded an Abbey at Aberbrothoc, and Tironensian monks from Kelso Abbey were brought there. This was the only church built by William I during his long reign (1165-1214), and he clearly intended it to be the main church in north-east Scotland. William I dedicated the Abbey to Saint Thomas Becket, the Archbishop of Canterbury who was murdered by King Henry II's knights in Canterbury Cathedral in 1170. The Abbey grew in importance, and through royal and noble grants gained considerable lands and parish churches, mainly in Angus and Aberdeenshire. The burgh of Arbroath grew up alongside the Abbey, and a harbour, too was built in 1394. The Abbey and its Abbots encouraged trade, and the fishing village of Auchmithie where the ‘Smokie’ began was also one of its possessions. A long line of Abbots headed the Abbey from its foundation for nearly five hundred years, including the infamous David Beaton, who became a Cardinal. After the Reformation, the Abbey and its lands became a lordship, but gradually the buildings declined and the possessions were lost to Arbroath. The famous 'Round O' in the ruins of the Abbey was once a magnificent circular window in the south transept. Fortunately the Abbey was taken into state care and is now managed by Historic Scotland who operates a popular visitor centre.
The Declaration Of Arbroath
Yet Robert himself, should he turn aside from the task that he has begun, and yield Scotland or us to the
English King and people, we should cast out as the enemy of us all, as subventer of our rights and of his own, and should choose another
king to defend our freedom.
On 6th April 1320 a letter which was signed and sealed by the majority of Scottish nobles left Arbroath for Pope John XXII, at that time based
in Avignon, France. Often known as the Declaration of Independence, the original Scottish copy of this document has survived and is now kept
in Edinburgh, in the care of the National Archives of Scotland, and is their most treasured possession.
Since 1947 this event has been and still is commemorated at Arbroath Abbey on 6th April, although some do not now believe that a gathering of
nobles actually took place in Arbroath. Even the authorship of the
document is far from clear, but what is not in doubt is that Scotland had the knowledge and skills to create such a document. Bernard, Abbot of
Aberbrothoc, who was also King Robert's chancellor, would certainly have been involved in the preparation of the letter. The final paragraph
of the declaration clearly states,
"given at the monastery of Arbroath in Scotland, the 6th day of April, in the year of Grace 1320, and
in the fifteenth year of the King named above."
The letter gives a strong impression of the patriotism of the nobles of Scotland and emphasises their 'Scottishness'. It states that if King
Robert should fail or agree to be subject to the King of England, that the nobles will drive him out and choose another King.
Many see the Declaration as Scotland's first step towards democracy, and it has been used by many as an expression of political independence
and has also been linked with the American Declaration of Independence.
The 6th April was adopted by the United States of America as Tartan Day, thus giving the date of the signing of the Arbroath Declaration truly
international significance.
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