The Border Reivers is a living history reenactment association that portrays life during the uneasy truce between Scotland and England in the 16th century. Cast members begin their careers as a part of the household of Baron Ursa Alexander Guthrie, 4th Baron of Guthrie, and Lord Warden (Wardoon) of the Marches of Scotland.
We are a family oriented group dedicated to educating and entertaining through personal interaction by presenting a living history for people to explore and experience. Each of the members plays a specific character relevant to the period. In some cases, those characters are based on actual individuals, while in others, they are based on historical reference and archaeological findings.
We are a family oriented group dedicated to educating and entertaining through personal interaction by presenting a living history for people to explore and experience. Each of the members plays a specific character relevant to the period. In some cases, those characters are based on actual individuals, while in others, they are based on historical reference and archaeological findings.
A Short History of The Marches
The Lord Warden (Laird Wardoon) of the Marches was an office in the governments of Scotland and England. The holders were responsible for the security of the border between the two nations, and often took part in military action.
The Marches on both side of the border were traditionally split into West, Middle and East, each with their own warden answerable to the Lord Warden-general. The English Western March was based in Carlisle and the Eastern March at Berwick-upon-Tweed. Border Reivers were raiders along the Anglo–Scottish border from the late 13th century to the beginning of the 17th century. Their ranks consisted of both Scottish and English families, and they raided the entire border country without regard to their victims' nationality. Their heyday was perhaps in the last hundred years of their existence, during the time of the Stuart Kings in Scotland and the Tudor Dynasty in England. Scotland and England were frequently at war during the late Middle Ages. During these wars, the livelihood of the people on the borders was devastated by the contending armies. Even when the countries were not at war, tension remained high, and royal authority in either kingdom was often weak. Communities or people kindred to each other would seek security through their own strength and cunning, and improve their livelihoods at their nominal enemies' expense. The attitudes of the English and Scottish governments towards the border families alternated between indulgence or even encouragement, as these fierce families served as the first line of defence against invasion from the other side of the border. During periods of nominal peace, a special body of customary law, known as Border Law, grew up to deal with the situation. Under Border Law, a person who had been raided had the right to mount a counter-raid within six days, even across the border, to recover his goods. Both sides of the border were divided into Marches, each under a March Warden. The March Wardens' various duties included the maintenance of patrols, watches, and garrisons in order to deter raiding from the other kingdom. On occasions March Wardens would initiate raids to recover loot, and to make a point to other raiders and officials. As soldiers, the Border Reivers were considered among the finest light cavalry in all of Europe. After meeting one Reiver, Queen Elizabeth I is quoted as having said that "with ten thousand such men, I could shake any throne in Europe."
The offices became unnecessary after the union of the crowns of England and Scotland under King James I in 1603 and by 1610, the offices were permanently disbanded.
The Marches on both side of the border were traditionally split into West, Middle and East, each with their own warden answerable to the Lord Warden-general. The English Western March was based in Carlisle and the Eastern March at Berwick-upon-Tweed. Border Reivers were raiders along the Anglo–Scottish border from the late 13th century to the beginning of the 17th century. Their ranks consisted of both Scottish and English families, and they raided the entire border country without regard to their victims' nationality. Their heyday was perhaps in the last hundred years of their existence, during the time of the Stuart Kings in Scotland and the Tudor Dynasty in England. Scotland and England were frequently at war during the late Middle Ages. During these wars, the livelihood of the people on the borders was devastated by the contending armies. Even when the countries were not at war, tension remained high, and royal authority in either kingdom was often weak. Communities or people kindred to each other would seek security through their own strength and cunning, and improve their livelihoods at their nominal enemies' expense. The attitudes of the English and Scottish governments towards the border families alternated between indulgence or even encouragement, as these fierce families served as the first line of defence against invasion from the other side of the border. During periods of nominal peace, a special body of customary law, known as Border Law, grew up to deal with the situation. Under Border Law, a person who had been raided had the right to mount a counter-raid within six days, even across the border, to recover his goods. Both sides of the border were divided into Marches, each under a March Warden. The March Wardens' various duties included the maintenance of patrols, watches, and garrisons in order to deter raiding from the other kingdom. On occasions March Wardens would initiate raids to recover loot, and to make a point to other raiders and officials. As soldiers, the Border Reivers were considered among the finest light cavalry in all of Europe. After meeting one Reiver, Queen Elizabeth I is quoted as having said that "with ten thousand such men, I could shake any throne in Europe."
The offices became unnecessary after the union of the crowns of England and Scotland under King James I in 1603 and by 1610, the offices were permanently disbanded.