Edinburgh Castle - Timeline

A historical timeline of one of Scotland's most important castles. Its story is Scotland's story.

Est 340million BC to around AD 600
AD 638 to around 1130
1296 to 1341
1356 to 1371
1457 to 1511
1494 to 1573
1574 to 1578
1650 to 1660
1689 to 1745
1757 to 1814
1818 to 1822
1829 to 1861
1887 to 1927
1945 to 1950
1996 to present day

Illustration of Edinburgh Castle’s last siege © Historic Scotland

Gallery

Royalty under threat

1689
Forces loyal to the exiled James VII (the Jacobites) hold the castle against the new sovereigns, William and Mary, but are ultimately defeated.

1715
During the third Jacobite Rising, the Jacobites almost break in through the castle’s Western Defences.

1745
Prince Charles Edward Stuart (Bonnie Prince Charlie) fails to capture the castle during the fifth and last Jacobite Rising. This is the castle’s last siege.