How, you may ask, did such a thorny flower become Scotland's national emblem Most legends point to the events surrounding the Battle of Largs in 1263?

Well, so the story goes, a very long time ago when Scotland was ravaged by Viking invaders,
a group of Scottish fighting men were resting overnight in a field.

Unknown to them, a raiding party was preparing to attack this group of Scots, under cover of darkness.

As the attacking Vikings approached the encamped Scots, they stood on a patch of Thistles with their barefeet and, of course, let out cries of pain as the thorns dug deep into the soles and toes.

The Scots, having been awakened by these muffled crys, were able to fight off the attackers.

The role of the thistle was then understood, and was chosen as Scotland's symbol, with the motto;
 "Nemo me impune lacessit", "No-one harms me without punishment"
but more commonly translated as "Wha daurs meddle wi me".
 

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