Tour Scotland short 4K early Autumn travel video clip of a Scotsman wearing a kilt and sporran and walking by a Bruce Castle located on the south east coast of Unst Island on ancestry, genealogy, history visit and trip to Shetland Islands, Britain, United Kingdom. It is northernmost castle in the British Isles. Built in 1598, this atmospheric, ruined castle tower house serves as a stark historical monument to a turbulent era of tyrannical rule, corruption, and intense family rivalries in Scotland's far north. The castle was built for Laurence Bruce of Cultmalindie, a Perthshire laird who migrated north after Shetland was annexed by the Scottish Crown. Bruce was the half brother of Robert Stewart, the 1st Earl of Orkney, who appointed him as the foud or sheriff and chief tax administrator of Shetland. Bruce and his entourage ruled with a corrupt, cruel enthusiasm, relentlessly squeezing the native Shetland population for revenues, which caused widespread oppression and even starvation. Despite an ironic stone inscription above the castle door that praises him as a " worthy man " who built the fortress for his heirs, history remembers Bruce as one of the most hated villains in Shetland's past. Bruce though had good reason to fear for his safety, primarily due to a bitter feud with his tyrannical nephew, Patrick Stewart, the 2nd Earl of Orkney. In 1608 Patrick Stewart viewed the construction of the Castle as a direct challenge to his authority. In 1608, the Earl arrived on Unst with 36 men and heavy artillery, intent on capturing or destroying the castle. However, just as he was poised to launch the assault, he and his men inexplicably withdrew. The castle survived its internal family feuds only to fall victim to foreign aggression. In August 1627, French privateers from Dunkirk raided the island, attacking and burning the castle. By the late 1600s, it was no longer in active use as a residence. In 1713, the building was briefly leased to the Dutch East India Company to serve as a makeshift warehouse for storing cargo salvaged from the Rhynenburgh, a company vessel that had wrecked nearby. The Bruce family finally sold the property in 1718 and new owners quickly abandoned it. Of interest to folks with ancestry, genealogy or Scottish Family Roots in Scotland who may wish to visit one day. Find things to see and do in Scotland where you are always welcome. Meteorological Autumn or Fall is different from standard and astronomical Autumn and begins September 1 and ends November 30
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