Why the Unicorn Is Scotland's National Animal

Most countries have a national animal. You know the United States has the bald eagle, but you may not know that Britain has the lion, Sweden has the moose, Ukraine has the nightingale, South Africa has the springbok, or Spain has the bull. And you might be totally surprised to learn that Scotland’s national animal is the unicorn, a completely mythical creature. “Well,” you’re probably wondering, “how did that happen?”

How the Unicorn Became the Scottish National Animal

The unicorn has a long history, stretching across multiple cultures and back through centuries. When myths of unicorns began to be told in Scotland, they became symbols in many chivalric tales of purity, power, and innocence. In multiple stories, unicorns could purify poisoned waters by dipping their horns in them. Moreover, unicorns were powerful beasts, so strong and fierce they were almost impossible to capture or tame.

You can see why the Scots would see this mythical creature as something to emulate; they desired that same unconquerable nature.

In the 12th century C.E., William I of Scotland introduced the unicorn to the full heraldic achievement of the royal coat of arms. Notably, the unicorns were depicted as chained, symbolically showing the strength of the kings of Scotland by taming an untamable creature.

Through the centuries, the unicorn came to represent the royal family of Scotland and the nation as a whole, making appearances on both the royal seal and on gold coins minted in the kingdom. You can still see unicorn statues, reliefs, and motifs throughout Scotland, especially on older buildings.

The Lion and the Unicorn

In 1603, King James VI of Scotland was crowned King James I of England. As part of his ascension, he replaced the unicorn on the left of his heraldic coat-of-arms with the British lion, uniting the two kingdoms symbolically, although the two would be treated as separate countries until the Acts of Union in 1707. To this day, the royal coat of arms of the United Kingdom features both the lion and the unicorn.

Interestingly, the unicorn and the lion are depicted as enemies in mythology, although that might be a more recent invention based on the unification of Scotland and England. And on a more lighthearted note, Scotland’s National Unicorn Day is April 9!

References: National Animals 2024 | The unicorn – Scotland’s national animal| Why is the unicorn Scotland’s National Animal? | The Unicorn, National Animal of Scotland | Why Is the Unicorn Scotland's National Animal?