As hard as it is to imagine Scotland without its Highlands, as is it to imagine it without its symbol, which at the same time is the emblem of that area – the thistle.

This plant grows in the lowlands as well as highlands part of this country. One of the characteristic features of the plant are he thorns protecting it from any potential aggressors.

There are a few legends explaining how it occurred that the plant became the symbol of Scotland. Most of them are from the times of the rein of Alexander III, especially the battle of Largs of 1263.

It is not commonly known that for hundreds of years Scotland was a part of Norway.

However, until 1263 Norway seemed to have little influence on the Scottish territory. The situation changed when Alexander offered to buy out Hebrides and Kintyre form the Nordic king Haakon IV. The thought of depriving king Alexander of some of his riches causes the revitalization of the Scandinavian influences in Scotland.

Late in the summer of 1263 the king of Norway Haakon decided to conquer Scotland. He had gathered a substantial fleet of the Vikings and together with them they headed for the Scottish coastline.

Due to severe weather conditions like stores and gales, some part of the fleet were forced to stop at the beach in Largs, in Ayrshire. Legend has it that at a certain point during an invasion of the Normans, they were trying to take the sleeping members of the Scottish clan aback.

Shrouded by the darkness, in order not to be heard, the Normans took off their shoes. Without their shoes on, they were stepping on the plants, so famous for its thorns. One of Haakon’s soldiers shouted out in pain  when poked thus sending off a signal to the sleeping Scots of the danger approaching.

The shouting woke the Scots up. They stood up and beat the Normans. This event found its way in history under the name of the battle of Larges victory. As a consequence, Scotland was not conquered.

 Since then thistle has been officially referred to as the national emblem of Scotland. As the symbol of Scotland, thistle was placed on silver coins issued by Jacob III of 1470.

It is said that the Order of the Thistle, the highest in rank symbol of honor, was established in 1540 by king Jacob V. The king was honored with the Order of the Garter by his uncle Henry VIII in England and the Order of the Golden Fleece by the emperor of France. Despite the fact, though, he felt a little underappreciated due to the fact he could not himself grant anyone with such Order which he himself would bring to life.

The case was solved as he established the Order of the Thistle and granted it to himself and the rest of his twelve knights.

Upon any visit to any of the Scottish cities, it is impossible to miss the chance of seeing the beautiful symbol of the thistle. You can spot it everywhere and things with its symbol on enjoy the eye.