Infuriated by the Scots' reneging on the agreement to marry the infant Mary Queen of Scots to Prince Edward, in order to keep Scotland neutral when he invades France, Henry VIII orders the Earl of Hertford to "Sack Leith and burn and subvert it and all the rest, putting man, woman and child to fire and sword without exception." This he does - Leith and Edinburgh, as well as several Borders towns, are sacked and burned, with the entire Old Town and Castle destroyed, excepting St Margaret's Chapel, which still stands today. This becomes known as the "Rough Wooing".

Mary of Guise, widow of James V and mother to Mary Queen of Scots, becomes sole Regent for her daughter.

The French abandon all claims to Scotland in the Treaty of Edinburgh. Parliament introduces the Protestant Order and makes Scotland legally Protestant.

Mary returns to Scotland to take control of the country

Mary Queen of Scots marries Henry, Lord Darnley in Holyrood Abbey.

James VI is born in Edinburgh Castle to Mary Queen of Scots and Darnley. Later, her confidant and secretary, Rizzio, is murdered at Holyroodhouse, suspected of being her lover.

Darnley is murdered in suspicious circumstances. Mary marries her true lover, the Earl of Bothwell. Mary is later imprisoned in Edinburgh. After being moved to Loch Leven, she is forced to abdicate in favour of her son James VI

Mary escapes incarceration and raises a small army, but she is defeated at the battle of Langside. She flees to England, where Elizabeth I places her under house arrest, where she remains for 19 years.

Edinburgh University is founded

Mary Queen of Scots is executed at Fotheringay Castle by order of Elizabeth I.

James VI publishes his book about witchcraft, Daemonologie.

After the death of Queen Elizabeth, James VI takes the English throne and unites the crowns, becoming James VI and I.

Charles I is crowned in Holyrood Abbey after the death of his father James VI.

Charles I dissolves Parliament and opts to rule alone, believing in the "Divine Right of Kings"

Charles I tries to introduce a "Book of Common Prayer", which meets with outrage amongst the Presbyterian masses.

The "National Covenant" is drawn up in protest against the king's interference with the church and all kinds of "Papistry". 300,000 people sign it.

Civil War breaks out between Royalists and Puritans, led by Oliver Cromwell, as well as the English Parliament.

In need of the support of the Scottish Parliament and Army, the English Parliament signs the "Solemn League and Covenant", agreeing to reform their church in line with the Scottish model.

Plague wipes out Edinburgh's population, leading to many closes, including Mary King's Close, being quarantined with the sick and dying still inside. Of 40,000 citizens, 60 are declared fit to bear arms and defend the town.

Despite some early successes, most notably by the Marquis of Montrose, Charles I is forced to surrender to the Covenanter army. He is eventually handed over to the English. The English renege on the deal to reform their church.

Charles I is executed by the English.

Edinburgh is taken by Oliver Cromwell. Under his protectorate, the Marquis of Montrose is paraded through Edinburgh by the Earl of Argyll, before being hanged, beheaded and quartered. His head is hung on the Tolbooth

Charles II is appointed king but only after being forced to sign the Covenant himself. He is shortly forced to flee to France by Cromwell's advancing forces.

Charles II is restored to the throne. The Earl of Argyll suffers the same fate as Montrose before him, being beheaded and having his head placed atop the Tolbooth

The beginning of a time of persecution and slaughter of the Covenanters that would last some 17 years, led by the likes of John Graham of Claverhouse. This period is known as "The Killing Time".

A reconstruction of Holyroodhouse is ordered to repair the damage caused by Hertford and Cromwell.

Sir George Mackenzie of Rosehaugh is appointed Lord Advocate. He oversees the persecution, torture and execution of thousands of Covenanters, earning the nickname "Bloody Mackenzie".

Charles II dies in England. His brother James VII and II takes the throne.

Roman Catholic King James VII and II is deposed by Parliament and rule is handed over to the Protestant Queen Mary II and her Husband, William of Orange, a Dutch prince, who becomes William II of Scotland and III of England. The last execution of a Covenanter takes place.

The Roman Catholic Duke of Gordon loses Edinburgh Castle to the Protestant forces of William of Orange.

The Campbells, having sworn loyalty to Queen Mary and William of Orange, slaughter the MacDonalds at Glencoe, for missing the set deadline to swear their own oath.

Mary II dies leaving the throne in the sole hands of William of Orange.

The Bank of Scotland is established by an Act of Parliament

Mary II dies leaving the throne in the sole hands of William of Orange.

The Treaty of Union is signed in Edinburgh, handing political control of Scotland over to England. The Edinburgh Mob riots in protest.