With a POD not earlier than 409 AD and with Edinburgh the capital of Scotland and Britain. There can still be a country called England in at least part of OTL England, with London as an important city.
I'm writing it down as I think it up here, but your challenge made me think of something. The reason that, in China, the Kingdom of Qin became the most powerful one in the Warring States period and eventually annexed the other six, was that it was the most exposed to barbarian raids. As a consequence it developed a militarized society that was in a constant state of war readiness (a trait further heightened by the adoption of Legalism as a state ideology). This, despite the fact that it was on the margins of Chinese civilization and considered only half-civilized by the core kingdoms.
The more obvious analogy in European history is with Hellenistic Macedonia, and how it took over the rest of Greece and eventually went on a conquering spree. But what if one tweaked conditions in Scotland so that the same causes would trigger the same effects? What if earlier, regular Norse raids on the Scottish shores resulted in a concentration of power and the development of a militarized society to address the threat? Later on, this alternate Scotland's military power could be turned southward on the occasion of a power vacuum.
Anyway, just an idea, ancient history isn't my strong suit, and I don't know whether Scotland had the resource base to develop an indigenous centralized power.
If we could have struck southwards during the 100 years war its hard to see how England could have defended itself.
I cant see Scotland becoming dominant in the UK because of this but it might eventually lead to a strong independent Scotland.
Also if the Jacobites had marched on to London I could see bonnie prince Charlie making England something of a puppet to a strong Stuart Scotland.
I'm writing it down as I think it up here, but your challenge made me think of something. The reason that, in China, the Kingdom of Qin became the most powerful one in the Warring States period and eventually annexed the other six, was that it was the most exposed to barbarian raids. As a consequence it developed a militarized society that was in a constant state of war readiness (a trait further heightened by the adoption of Legalism as a state ideology). This, despite the fact that it was on the margins of Chinese civilization and considered only half-civilized by the core kingdoms.
The more obvious analogy in European history is with Hellenistic Macedonia, and how it took over the rest of Greece and eventually went on a conquering spree. But what if one tweaked conditions in Scotland so that the same causes would trigger the same effects? What if earlier, regular Norse raids on the Scottish shores resulted in a concentration of power and the development of a militarized society to address the threat? Later on, this alternate Scotland's military power could be turned southward on the occasion of a power vacuum.
Anyway, just an idea, ancient history isn't my strong suit, and I don't know whether Scotland had the resource base to develop an indigenous centralized power.
That's a good point. Peripheral polities that manage to become hegemonic do so because they are able to apply on a larger scale the methods developed in the core ones. The only way for Scotland to do that would be to set up a thalassocracy.Well, I think the problem with this analogy is that the Qin and Macedonia were strengthened not merely by the militaristic society needed for defence, but also the expansion that is the natural result of an open frontier, uncivilized neighbors, and a strong military. Scotland lacks the open frontier for expansion, unless they become like the Norse, and create a sea based empire.
That and perhaps have there be more frequent Norse raids on Scotland and ATL Scotland's overseas holdings, probably North Atlantic islands and some of Ireland.That's a good point. Peripheral polities that manage to become hegemonic do so because they are able to apply on a larger scale the methods developed in the core ones. The only way for Scotland to do that would be to set up a thalassocracy.
The problem is that this happened in OTL, and it didn't boost Scotland enough to make a huge difference, although it may have quickened the process of centralisation.That and perhaps have there be more frequent Norse raids on Scotland and ATL Scotland's overseas holdings, probably North Atlantic islands and some of Ireland.
Scotland become militarised and strengthened as a result of having to bolster themselves against it. Whereas the Saxon kingdoms are busy squabbling over who drank all the tea or what have you.
Also if the Jacobites had marched on to London I could see bonnie prince Charlie making England something of a puppet to a strong Stuart Scotland.
I think the best bet is the Maid of Norway. If she survived and became Queen (in fact, rather than just in theory) of both Scotland and Norway, that would raise the importance of Scotland right there. Then (handwaving) the Scots/Norse settle North America first. Then by 1700 or 1800 they have the total population and wealth to take on *England, or at least to be stronger than she is.With a POD not earlier than 409 AD and with Edinburgh the capital of Scotland and Britain. There can still be a country called England in at least part of OTL England, with London as an important city.