Edinburgh Castle part one


Edinburgh Scotland is my favorite place to travel; I just love the history there and would  love to return over and over. In fact, if I could figure out how, I would live there part time.


Castle History

Edinburgh  is said to be the most haunted city in Europe, perhaps that is why I love it so. Edinburgh Castle is listed as one of the most haunted places in the city, it sits on top of Castle Rock an imposing formation formed from a volcano. Records indicate that this impressive ancient fortress has been in existence and occupied by humans since the Iron age.

There has been a castle here since the reign of David I who built the castle in 1130. Today Saint Margaret’s Chapel, built in the 12th century and  located on the castle grounds is believed to be the oldest surviving building in Edinburgh.  Built by David I who was the 4th son of Saint Margaret of Scotland, also known as Margaret of Wessex. Margaret was an English Princess and a Scottish Queen, she married King Malcom III of Scotland.  Queen Margaret is said to have uttered the words "deliver me"  before dying of a broken heart somewhere between 3 and 9 days after learning of the deaths of her husband and oldest son Edward at the Battle of Alnwick on November 13, 1093. She was buried along side King Malcolm in Dunfermline Abbey. Margaret was canonized a saint in 1250 by Pope Innocent IV. After the being canonized the bodies of Queen Margaret and King Malcolm were lifted and moved to their new shrine at the east end of the new church where they lay until the Reformation of 1560. It was likely during this time that Mary Queen of Scots had Saint Margaret’s head exhumed and moved to Edinburgh Castle as a relic to assist her in childbirth. During the Reformation Malcolm's remains and Margaret body were moved to Douai France, later Phillip II of Spain had their remains moved to Escorial in Madrid, their current location is now a mystery.
Many changes were made to the castle over the years. In the 1360’s King David III rebuilt much of Edinburgh Castle to include David’s tower which stood until 1571 and was replaced with Half Moon Battery in the 1700’s. In 1460 King James III refurbished the royal residences at the castle.
Edinburgh continued as a royal residence through 1633, the castle served as a refuge for Mary Queen of Scots several times during her tumultuous life. Her mother Marie de Guise died at the castle in 1560 and Mary gave birth to her only son King James VI  ( of Scotland) and King James I( of England and Ireland) in a small room within the castle.  
It was under King James that Scotland and England became united. King James was named King while his mother Mary was still alive he was also heir to Queen Elizabeth of England. After Queen Elizabeth's death King James ruled England, Scotland and Ireland for 22 years.
In the 16th and 17th centuries alleged witches were imprisoned and tortured, at Edinburgh Castle, before being found guilty, and executed on Castle Hill.
The castle has endured multiple sieges at the hands of the English with possession going back and forth between  the Scottish and English. In the 17th century, the castle was used as a military barracks and in the 18th century the Jacobite rebellion came close to claiming the castle but ultimately failed. The castle  became a military fortress housing a large garrison and many prisoners of war. Today the castle is still part of the military, hosts the Military Tattoo, is home to the Scottish Crown jewels and is a tourist attraction with thousands of visitors making their way up the Royal Mile to wander the castle grounds each year.




Hauntings
In 2001 Edinburgh castle was the site of the largest scientific paranormal investigation to ever be conducted, 240 volunteers were selected to spend 10 days exploring the castle.  The volunteers were screened to ensure they knew nothing of the haunted history of this castle. These groups were lead through vaults and chambers, none of the volunteers had been told which areas had a history of paranormal activity.


Members of the groups reported feeling sudden drops in temperature, seeing dark figures, feelings of eyes on them. Some even reported being touched or the feeling of having their clothing grabbed.  Once women who was placed alone in a room with a video camera stated she almost immediately heard breathing coming from the corner.
There are multiple ghosts reported to haunt Edinburgh Castle, among them the headless drummer, a phantom piper, Lady Glamis, who was burnt at the state in 1537 after being falsely accused of witchcraft, many prisoners of war and even a little black dog who wanders the pet cemetery.
Stay tuned to more information on the ghosts who are said to wander the castle grounds.

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