Auld Reekie Rises

How Edinburgh Became Scotland’s Capital

In the mists of history, long before Edinburgh was crowned with the grand titles of capital or cultural hub, it was a strategic hilltop encampment—rocky, wind-bitten, and steeped in mystery. Its roots reach into the murky world of Celtic tribes, Roman shadows, and medieval ambition. The name Auld Reekie, now used with affection, once referred quite literally to the city’s smoky atmosphere. It wasn't a romantic smog but a pungent mix of peat, wood, coal, and humanity’s proximity. But beneath that reek, Edinburgh was rising—not just in stature but in influence, power, and permanence. This is the story of how that smoky settlement became the beating heart of Scotland.