Image courtesy castlesofscotland . Stirling Castle was first mentioned around 1100 and is considered as one of the most historically important sites in Scotland. ▫️ Throughout the Wars of Independence with England (1296–1356), Stirling was hotly fought over and changed hands frequently. Many bloody battles waged nearby, including Wallace’s great victory over English forces at Stirling Bridge (1297) and Robert the Bruce’s decisive defeat of Edward II at Bannockburn (1314). ▫️ Robert the Bruce had the castle’s defences destroyed to prevent it falling into enemy hands again. It was not substantially rebuilt until 1336, when the English recaptured it. The castle finally fell back into Scottish hands in 1342. ▫️ Until the Union of the Crowns in 1603, almost every Scottish monarch had either lived in the castle, or been crowned or died here. As such many grand celebrations took place at Stirling, from the coronation of Mary, Queen of Scots to the christening of her son and future King James ...