Scotland's National Animal Is a Unicorn: Why a Mythical Creature Represents a Real Country

Scotland's national animal is the unicorn, a mythical creature that has symbolized Scottish royalty and independence for over 600 years. Unlike most countries that choose real animals like lions, eagles, or bears, Scotland embraced a legendary creature that represents qualities the nation values: purity, innocence, power, and freedom. The unicorn became an official symbol during the reign of King Robert III in the late 1390s and remains Scotland's national animal today, appearing on the royal coat of arms, coins, and buildings throughout the country.

Historical Origins of the Symbol

Scottish kings first used the unicorn as a heraldic symbol as early as the 1100s during the reign of King William I. However, it became the official national animal under King Robert III in the late 1300s. Medieval Europeans genuinely believed unicorns were real animals that lived in distant lands. Ancient Greek and Roman natural history texts described unicorns as powerful creatures native to India. Medieval bestiaries depicted unicorns as wild, untamable beasts that only a virgin could capture. The unicorn's horn, called an alicorn, supposedly had magical properties including the ability to purify poisoned water and cure diseases. Viking traders sold narwhal tusks as unicorn horns for enormous sums to European nobility who believed in these powers.

Why Scotland Chose a Unicorn

Scotland deliberately selected the unicorn for its symbolic associations with power and independence. Medieval tradition held that the unicorn was the natural enemy of the lion, which served as England's symbol. This opposition perfectly represented Scotland's centuries long struggle to maintain independence from English rule. The unicorn also symbolized purity and untamability, characteristics Scots associated with their national identity. According to legend, a free unicorn was a dangerous beast, but once captured, it became the most loyal of creatures. This duality matched how Scotland saw itself: fierce in defending freedom but loyal to rightful authority. The unicorn's association with healing and purification also connected to Scottish values of moral righteousness.

The Chained Unicorn Mystery

Scottish heraldic unicorns almost always appear wearing a golden chain around their necks or bodies. This seems contradictory since the unicorn represents freedom and wildness. The chains actually convey an important message: the unicorn is so powerful and dangerous that only a Scottish king possesses the strength to control it. The chains demonstrate royal power rather than imprisonment. They show that Scottish monarchs are strong enough to tame even the wildest, most powerful creatures. When Scotland and England united their crowns in 1603 under King James VI of Scotland, the British Royal Coat of Arms featured an English lion and a Scottish unicorn, both crowned. The unicorn kept its chain, symbolizing that Scotland joined the union but retained its distinct identity and strength.

Unicorns in British Symbolism

The British Royal Coat of Arms displays the historical relationship between Scotland and England through its supporting animals. The left side shows a crowned English lion standing on its hind legs. The right side shows a crowned Scottish unicorn, also rearing, wearing its golden chain. This pairing commemorates the 1603 Union of the Crowns when James VI of Scotland also became James I of England. The animals face away from the central shield in an adversarial stance, reflecting the complex history between the two nations. An old children's rhyme goes: "The lion and the unicorn were fighting for the crown. The lion beat the unicorn all around the town." This rhyme references the political struggles between England and Scotland throughout history.

Unicorn Beliefs in Medieval Times

Medieval people sincerely believed unicorns existed as real animals. Travelers' tales from distant lands described them alongside elephants, rhinoceros, and other exotic beasts. The Bible's King James translation mentions unicorns nine times, though scholars now believe these references describe wild oxen misidentified by translators. Pharmacies sold powdered unicorn horn as medicine for hundreds of years. Royal families owned drinking vessels allegedly made from alicorn that would neutralize any poison. These horns were actually narwhal tusks from Arctic whales, but their spiral shape matched descriptions of unicorn horns perfectly. The Danish throne in Copenhagen features armrests made from narwhal tusks presented as unicorn horns, demonstrating how seriously medieval nobility took these beliefs.

Modern Scottish Unicorns

Unicorns remain prominently featured throughout Scotland today. The Scottish version of the Royal Coat of Arms shows two unicorns supporting the shield instead of the lion and unicorn pairing on the British version. Mercat crosses, historic market monuments found in Scottish towns, often feature unicorn sculptures. Stirling Castle displays beautiful 16th century unicorn tapestries called the Hunt of the Unicorn. British pound coins minted in Scotland show a unicorn on the reverse side. Edinburgh's Palace of Holyroodhouse, the official Scottish residence of the British monarch, features numerous unicorn carvings and emblems. The unicorn appears so frequently in Scottish architecture, art, and official imagery that visitors often comment on the country's devotion to its mythical national animal.