On this day in 1249 Alexander III, King of Scots, was crowned at Scone.

Crowned at the age of eight, Alexander ruled Scotland for 35 years. His reign became known as "The Golden Age" as it was a largely peaceful and prosperous time for the Scots, with only a minor conflict with Norway over the Inner Hebrides to mar it. The end to his reign was a disaster for the nation, however, as he died without issue, and the subsequent infighting amongst the nobility led to English overlordship.

Today in July 1820 saw the commencement of the trial, in Stirling, of the Radicals captured at the Battle of Bonnymuir. All those accused faced the charge of High Treason and two of the accused, John Baird and Andrew Hardie, were subsequently executed on 8 September 1820.

Today's recipe: use in-season beetroot to make this deep purple and delicious Borscht.