Scotland – Its Unique Story Part 7 The Baltic

Scotland - Its Unique Story Part 7

Scotland – Its Unique Story Part 7

                         Emigration to the Baltic

Scotland – Its Unique Story Part 7. During the long reign of King James VI (1567-1625) the population of Scotland is thought to have doubled in size. From the 1590’s onwards this prompted a large scale movement of population to the then economically vibrant Baltic region of northern Europe. The Scottish migration was particularly concentrated in Sweden and Poland. At one point some 30000 Scots were estimated to be resident in the Kingdom of Poland. There was a particular concentration in the city of Gdansk(Danzig) in Poland which has areas in it known as Old and New Scotland. There were many merchants present in the city and also in Torun and Krakow.

                                              Scots In Poland

Though usually welcomed in Poland Scots were often criticized for their drunkenness and sheer numbers. Successful merchants such as Robert Gordon and William Forbes made hugh fortunes in Danzig which were reinvested back in Scotland. The latter being known in Scotland as ‘Danzig Wiilie’. Gdansk even recruited a regiment of Scottish mercenary soldiers to defend it. There was also a particular large-scale emigration from Scotland to the newly established city of Gothenburg after 1621. This meant that many ideas came back to Scotland along with the trade in such items as wood and grain.