Heritage and Culture

THIS WEEK IN Heritage and Culture

THE REHABILITATION of historical figures has always been an interesting pastime. For instance, Genghis Khan is now seen by some as an opponent of slavery and protector of women's rights.

Here in Scotland one of our more blood-soaked monarchs is now up for a makeover.

Macbeth's name has long been synonymous with bloodshed, witchcraft and murder - thanks to William Shakespeare.

Actually, this is unfair. The king he defeated in battle, Duncan, was a weak, arrogant monarch. By contrast, Macbeth is widely viewed as having ruled well.

Now a group of Scottish parliamentarians have tabled a motion that "regrets that Macbeth is misportrayed in the Shakespeare play of that name when he was a successful Scottish king".

Another example of English propaganda is the case of Sawney Bean, the Caveman Cannibal. This charming individual was supposed to have spawned an incestuous brood who feasted on the flesh of hapless travellers who strayed too near his base in Ayrshire.

Legend has it that they killed one thousand people.

Legend is a load of rubbish.

In fact, Sawney Bean never existed. His story first appeared in print in the latter part of the 18th century in English newspapers - a time when attempts were being made to demonise the Scots in the wake of the Jacobite rebellions.

Sir James Douglas, Robert the Bruce's second-in-command at Bannockburn, was also demonised by the English. They called him "the Black Douglas" and there is even a northern English lullaby that reassures scared children that "the Black Douglas will not get ye".

North of the Border, he was known as "Sir James the Good", which shows what a difference perspective can have.

In Heritage next week:

Did you know that Jesus Christ was Scottish? And Pontius Pilate? And King Arthur? We go looking behind a rock, up a tree and down a glen in search of some of Scotland's madder myths.

His parents separated when he was three. After his mother died young, he lived in a home without women. Is it any wonder that Prince Charles Edward Stewart could never form a lasting relationship with a woman?