Highland Soldiers in the Thirty Years War – Scotland – Its Unique Story Part 5

                  Scotland – Its Unique Story Part 5

Though there had been some immigration from Scotland to Europe in previous times. It was from the later sixteenth century onwards that the phenomenon of the movement of people out of Scotland really got going. This was in sharp contrast to the previous millennia of inward migration. This also had the effect of bringing new ideas and technologies in to Scotland. These had been learned directly in other countries where more advanced techniques had been developed.

                                      The Growth in Population

The population of Scotland is thought to have doubled in the century after 1550. This together with the growth of the economy in the long reign of King James VI prompted these massive population movements.  This movement of population to countries such as Poland, Sweden and the Baltic region as a whole was also matched by a hugh growth of trade from Scotland to these countries.

                                              The Thirty Years War

A darker side to this migration is illustrated in the image above. Where large numbers of mercenary soldiers took part in the conflicts of the period. Particularly in the appalling Thirty Years War . This was fought between 1618 – 1648 and destroyed much of central Europe. Though the bulk of the immigration from Scotland to the Baltic region was was prior to 1650. There was some that continued well in to the eighteenth century. In particular to Prussia and Russia.  Thereafter it becoming increasingly concerned with trade.