Scotland
Centuries ago, the relationship between Scotland and England was one of constant struggle and strife and this history has disadvantaged Scotland in ways that remain to this day. While the relations between the two are stable at this point in time, the battles over the lands of Scotland long ago have left them with few resources and depleted forces. The size of their country and their limited resources have both been a struggle for the nation, but they are resilient and strong people with a fierce pride and a fighting spirit.
Over the recent decades of peace, they have managed to collect themselves and gain enough influence to become a contender on the international playing field, despite their limited reach and lack of resources overall. This influence has given them a chance to improve their standing among the other larger nations and this access has improved trade enough to kick start the economy with a trend toward the positive for the first time in a long while.
As such, they are seeking an alliance to reinforce their status and provide additional security for the future of their nation. The threat of England’s power paired with their close proximity and the blood history between the two nations has kept them at the forefront of the Scottish mind and they know that the chance of struggle is never too far away.
Because of this history of struggle and strife, the Scottish have learned to embrace life’s small joys and will always celebrate even the smallest of successes. This vivacious and joyous outlook makes them prone to boisterous celebration and they will count every blessing as the greatest of them all.
This joy and desire to band together and share with every person of their nation made the switch to Protestantism easy for the Scottish people. The sense of community and equality that is preached by the Protestant faith os well aligned with the desires of the Scottish people to band together and stand firm against any struggle or obstacle that they could face. Their geographic distance from the Roman Catholic reach as well as their small size resulted in an effortless slip from the grasp of the Roman Catholic power, as opposed to the grand display of rebuttal that came about during the creation of the Church of England.
With the unexpected death of Queen Jocelyn in 1603, Scotland’s underage King Patrik had little choice but to sign the treaty between Scotland and England all-but giving his country to the English Queen. Now risiding in neutral Italy with his maternal uncle, Duke Willieam Hughes, he works to find solid ground underfoot.
Scottish Relations at a Glance
ENGLAND – With a tumultuous and blood history between these two nations, the Scottish are wary and apprehensive about what the future might hold. While relations are currently stable, that fact could easily change at any moment in the future. – As of 1603, with the death of the Scottish Queen, Scotland is now English territory.
FRANCE – Closest in proximity outside of England, the Scottish are eager to forge an alliance with the nation of France for an ally against any threat the English could make. Their difference in faiths could pose an issue, but their relations are positive overall.
GERMANY – England and Germany are known allies, and this fact is of some concern to the Scottish. With an additional powerful nation on the side of England, the Scottish are wary of the potential for a military campaign at some point in the future.
ITALY – Italy and Scotland have very little to do with one another on a large scale and their relations tend to be civil overall. Their neutral stance makes them neither friend nor foe, but the Italians occasionally have something to say about their Protestant faith.
SPAIN – As one of the most powerful nations currently not aligned with any other nation, the Scottish believe Spain to be their best bet for forging a powerful and beneficial alliance. Knowing they aren’t particularly fond of England doesn’t hurt either.
ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH – Some holdouts of Roman Catholicism still live within Scotland, but their slip into Protestantism came surprisingly easy and without much fuss from the powers of the Catholic Church, due in part to their small size and influence.
PROTESTANT CHURCH – The Protestant faith was a perfect fit for the spirit of the Scottish people, making the transition into Protestantism easy for the nation as a whole. While some Catholics remain, they are not at odds with the overall population.
MIDDLE CLASS – Due to the struggles of the nation of Scotland, it is not a terribly wealthy nation. The unfortunate side effect is that there is a huge disparity between the haves and the have nots and virtually no middle class to be found.
LOWER CLASS – The overall standing of the population of Scotland is considerably poorer than any other nation and the lower class of the nation is at times truly destitute. There is a large number of people living in the lower class around the nation as a whole.
