The Scottish warrior has throughout history been armed with some of the most famous and instantly recognisable weapons and armour ever produced. From the majestic Highland two-handed sword and the diminutive sgian dhu that tucks into the sock of every Scotsman in formal dress to the distinctive leather shield or targe, these objects are redolent of great men and hard-fought battles – men such as William Wallace, Robert the Bruce and Bonnie Prince Charlie and battles such as Stirling Bridge, Bannockburn, Flodden and Culloden. An important aspect of national heritage and folklore, Scottish weapons and armor are icons of valor and pride for millions worldwide. With a foreword by the 23rd Chief of the Clan Macnab, this pioneering study by Fergus Cannan examines the Scottish people at war and the armor and weaponry they have used on the battlefield from the Stone Age to the present day.

The Scottish soldier has been at war for over 2000 years. Until now, no reference work has attempted to examine this vast heritage of warfare.A Military History of Scotland offers readers an unparalleled insight into the evolution of the Scottish military tradition. This wide-ranging and extensively illustrated volume traces the military history of Scotland from pre-history to the recent conflict in Afghanistan. Edited by three leading military historians, and featuring contributions from thirty scholars, it explores the role of warfare in the emergence of a Scottish kingdom, the forging of a Scottish-British military identity, and the participation of Scots in Britain's imperial and world wars. Eschewing a narrow definition of military history, it investigates the cultural and physical dimensions of Scotland's military past such as Scottish military dress and music, the role of the Scottish soldier in art and literature, Scotland's fortifications and battlefield archaeology, and Scotland's military memorials and museum collections.