[MR] BBC: Lost Scottish Clan

[Garth Groff via Atlantia]

Noble Friends, Especially Fellow Scots,

Recently BBC Magazine has been offering a feature on the supposed "Lost 
Scottish Clan" which is said to live in the Italian Alps at tiny village 
called Gurro. According to legend, a group of elite Scottish mercenaries 
from the /Garde Écossaise/  in the service of Francis I were trapped 
here during the retreat from his disastrous defeat at the 1525 Battle of 
Pavia. The Scots wintered over in the village, and decided not to leave. 
Possibly true. The story is largely about their modern descendants and 
can be found here: http://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-40865981 .

The /Garde Écossaise/  was a very real military unit in the personal 
service of various French Kings. Originally founded by Charles VII 
during the Hundred Years War from Scots fighting on the French side, 
they were part of his personal bodyguard. Charles was pretty paranoid 
(he had good reason to be for his part in the assassination of John the 
Fearless, Duke of Burgundy), and wanted a bodyguard without French 
factional ties. The Scots were perfect for the role. An appointment to 
the /Garde/  became a prized perk for sons of Scottish nobles and 
upwardly mobile burgesses, allowing the lads to polish their French and 
their resumes. During the later 16th century as relations between 
Scotland and England became a bit more peaceful, recruitment of Scots 
for the /Garde / became rarer and its ranks were filled with native 
French. More about the /Garde/  can be found at 
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Garde_Écossaise .

Yours Aye,


Lord Mungo Napier, That Crazy Scot