Castle Rock first known to be inhabited and is the site of many Celtic feasts.

Kingdom of Gododdin (known by the Romans as Votadini) is centred on Castle Rock, ruled by King Mynydogg. His capital, Dun Eidyn (the fortress on the hill slope) is on the rock itself.

Edwin of Northumbria takes the town and renames it Edinburgh, an anglification of Dun Eidyn.

Malcolm II defeats the Northumbrians and confirms Edinburgh as a Scottish town.

MacBeth kills Duncan to become King of Scotland

Malcolm Canmore kills MacBeth. Macbeth's stepson, Lulach, known as "The Fool", briefly takes the throne.

Malcolm Canmore kills Lulach and is crowned Malcolm III.

After the death of Queen Margaret, wife of Malcolm III, Edinburgh Castle first appears in recorded history.

David I, son of Malcolm III and Margaret is crowned

Holyrood Abbey is founded by David I, after an escape from a wild stag while out hunting in the area.

Queen Margaret is canonised and becomes St Margaret.(St Margaret's chapel is the oldest remaining part of Edinburgh Castle)

Alexander III dies leaving only his infant granddaughter, the Maid of Norway, as heir to the throne of Scotland

Margaret, the Maid of Norway, dies leaving no clear heir to the throne and thirteen claimants. Edward I of England is invited to settle the dispute by the Scots in an attempt to avoid civil war. Edward subsequently claims lordship over Scotland

After a long dispute between two descendants of David I, Balliol and Bruce, John Balliol is appointed King under the feudal lordship of Edward I.

John Balliol revolts against Edward I and establishes the Auld Alliance with France, whereby both countries agree to invade England should England attack either of them.

Edinburgh Castle is sacked by Edward I. The reigning Scottish king, John Balliol, surrenders and is taken to England and imprisoned.

William Wallace leads Scots to a great victory over the English at Stirling Bridge. Wallace is knighted and appointed Guardian of the Realm, acting for John Balliol.

Wallace's forces are wiped out by Edward I's army at Falkirk. Edward effectively re-establishes his feudality over Scotland

Wallace is captured and tried for treason in London, found guilty and hanged, drawn and quartered.

Robert the Bruce kills John Comyn, a rival for the throne, in Greyfriar's Church, Dumfries. He then goes to Scone where he is crowned King of Scotland

Robert the Bruce defeats the newly crowned Edward II at the Battle of Louden Hill.

An assault party scales the north face of Castle Rock and seizes the Castle back from the English for Robert the Bruce.

Robert the Bruce wins a famous victory over the English at Bannockburn and takes full control of Scotland back from Edward II.

Against Edward II's attempts to take back control of Scotland, the Declaration of Arbroath is issued to the Pope, including the famous lines: "It is not for honour nor riches, nor glory that we fight but for liberty alone, which no true man lays down except with his life." and "…as long as but a hundred of us remain alive, never will we on any conditions be brought under English rule."

Holyrood Abbey is sacked by the English.

The Treaty of Edinburgh-Northampton ends war with the English and concedes Scotland's independence.

Robert the Bruce dies and his heart is taken from his body and preserved. David II is crowned King.

Rebuilding begins on the ruined Castle.

Robert II, the first of the royal Stewart line, is crowned after the death of David II without producing an heir.

Robert III takes the throne after his father's abdication.

Henry IV unsuccessfully lays siege to the Castle

James, the only surviving son of Robert III, is captured by pirates en route to France and handed over to Henry IV as a prisoner. Robert dies within days of receiving the news and the Duke of Albany is appointed Regent during James' incarceration

After the death of Albany and the promotion of his incompetent son Murdoch to the Regency, the Scots secure James' release from Henry V with the Treaty of London, subject to a £40,000 ransom. James is crowned James I at Scone. Murdoch is beheaded along with his two sons and the Earl of Lennox for failing to secure James' release sooner

James I is murdered in Perth by a group of conspirators led by Sir Robert Graham, under the orders of his grandfather the Earl of Atholl. Graham and Atholl are both executed. James II is crowned at the age of six.

The Scots defeat the English at the Battle of Sark. James II grants permission for a wall to be built around Edinburgh to protect against further invasion by the English. The north pastures are flooded to form the Nor Loch.

James III comes to the throne and formally acknowledges Edinburgh as the capital of Scotland. He turns Edinburgh Castle into an ordnance factory.

A group of nobles led by Prince James, rise against James III and defeat him in battle at Sauchieburn. James III is found dead a few days later. James is crowned James IV

The Palace of Holyroodhouse is founded.

James IV and many other Scots die at Flodden in a disastrous battle with the English. The Flodden Wall is built around Edinburgh as a further defence against the English, taking in the Cowgate. The wall is 23 feet tall and 5 feet deep.

James V is crowned in Holyrood Abbey.

James V dies after defeat by Henry VIII's forces at the Battle of Solway Moss. His infant daughter Mary Stewart becomes Mary Queen of Scots. Several Regents are appointed during her minority.

The Treaty of Greenwich ends the war with England, but one provision of the deal is that Mary Queen of Scots will be married to Prince Edward, Henry's heir.