Lothian
 |
ScotlandLothian1974.png |
(
Lowden in
Scots,
Lodainn in
Gaelic) forms a traditional region of
Scotland, lying between the southern shore of the
Firth of Forth and the
Lammermuir Hills. It takes its name from the semi-legendary Brythonic King Loth or
Lot. In the 7th century it became the northern part of the Saxon kingdom of
Northumbria.
It is notable in Scotland for being the only part of the nation to have been thoroughly
Anglo-Saxon throughout Scottish history and is one of the few areas where the
Gaelic language did not take root. Over time and due to various factors the language of the Lothians and the former kingdom of
Northumbria,
Inglis (which became modern day
Lowland Scots) came to displace Gaelic as the language of lowland Scotland and adopted for itself the title of 'Scots' or 'Scottis' which had previously referred to Gaelic — which was subsequently denigrated as 'Erse' or 'Irish'.
Subsequent Scottish history saw it subdivided into the
shires of
West Lothian,
Midlothian and
East Lothian - leading to the phrase "the Lothians".
It was resurrected as a government region of Scotland in
1975, only to be split up in
1996 into West Lothian,
City of Edinburgh, Midlothian and East Lothian, which had previously been the region's districts.
Lothian continues to have joint boards for valuation and electoral registration and for health.
