Discovering Campbeltown

A glimpse into the past

Campbeltown boasts a remarkable history, from its early days as a Viking settlement to its prominent role in the whisky industry. Explore historical images that bring Campbeltown's past to life, showcasing its evolution and the events that shaped its identity. Discover stories of resilience, innovation, and cultural significance that echo through the ages.

The phrase "Plantation of 'Lowland men and trafficking burgesses'" refers to a specific type of colonization project undertaken by the Scottish Crown in the early 17th century. It describes the settlement of a new town with particular groups of people in an effort to control a rebellious region.

Here's a breakdown of the terms:

• Plantation: In this context, a "plantation" is not a large agricultural estate worked by laborers. Instead, it refers to a state-sponsored program of organized colonization or settlement. The goal was to confiscate land from local, often rebellious, populations and "plant" loyal settlers from other parts of Great Britain. This was a key strategy of King James I (also known as James VI of Scotland) to assert control over regions he considered unruly, such as parts of the Scottish Highlands and, most famously, the province of Ulster in Ireland.

• Lowland men: This term distinguishes the settlers from the native Gaelic-speaking Highlanders of Scotland. The Scottish Lowlands were the more densely populated, prosperous, and politically aligned region of Scotland. In contrast to the kin-based, pastoral society of the Highlands, Lowlanders had a more settled, agricultural economy and spoke a Germanic language (Scots), which was closer to English. The Crown saw Lowland men as more "civilized" and "docile" and believed they would be more loyal subjects and better able to "pacify" the Highlands.

• Trafficking burgesses: A "burgess" was a citizen of a "burgh," a town with specific legal and trading privileges granted by the crown. Burgesses were typically merchants or skilled craftsmen who had the exclusive right to trade and practice their craft within the burgh. The word "trafficking" in this context is an old term for trading or engaging in commerce. Therefore, "trafficking burgesses" refers to these merchants and traders who were being brought in to establish a new commercial center. The goal was to "commercialize" the local economy, tying it more closely to the wider kingdom and making the local population dependent on a stable relationship with the Crown's new town.

In essence, the phrase describes a plan to establish a new town or settlement in a rebellious area by introducing loyal, Lowland Scots, specifically focusing on a class of merchants and traders who would create a new economic and social structure, thereby undermining the existing local Gaelic society.