page_title: Scotland
hierarchical_section_title: Scotland
context_page_description: Scotland is one of the four countries that make up the United Kingdom. It is the northern half of the island of Great Britain, along with many other islands, with about five million people living there. To the south of Scotland is England, the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the west and the Irish Sea to the south-west.
  Scotland was once an independent country and had its own monarch, but is now in a union with England, Wales and Northern Ireland, which is called the United Kingdom. In 1603, the King of Scotland, James VI, became King of England too, because Queen Elizabeth I of England died and had no son or daughter to take her place as king or queen. In 1707, the parliament of Scotland joined with the parliament of England to become the Parliament of Great Britain.
  Even though Scotland is not independent, throughout history it has had its own legal system, church, schools and culture. Since 1999, Scotland has had its own parliament, the Scottish Parliament. It was devolved from the British parliament, which still controls many things regarding Scotland.
  On 18 September 2014, a referendum on independence from the United Kingdom took place.
context_section_description: Scotland (Scottish Gaelic: Alba) is one of the four countries that make up the United Kingdom. It is the northern half of the island of Great Britain, along with many other islands, with about five million people living there. To the south of Scotland is England, the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the west and the Irish Sea to the south-west.
  Scotland was once an independent country and had its own monarch, but is now in a union with England, Wales and Northern Ireland, which is called the United Kingdom. In 1603, the King of Scotland, James VI, became King of England too, because Queen Elizabeth I of England died and had no son or daughter to take her place as king or queen. In 1707, the parliament of Scotland joined with the parliament of England to become the Parliament of Great Britain.
  Even though Scotland is not independent, throughout history it has had its own legal system, church, schools and culture. Since 1999, Scotland has had its own parliament, the Scottish Parliament. It was devolved from the British parliament, which still controls many things regarding Scotland.
  On 18 September 2014, a referendum on independence from the United Kingdom took place. A majority (55%) voted to stay in the United Kingdom.
  The Flag of Scotland is blue with a white diagonal cross. This is the cross of Saint Andrew, who is the patron saint of Scotland. Some other symbols used for Scotland are a thistle, and a lion rampant.
  The capital city of Scotland is Edinburgh on the east coast, but the biggest city is Glasgow on the west coast. Other cities in Scotland are Aberdeen, Dundee, Inverness, Perth and Stirling.
caption: Map of Scotland
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