View source for Cities of Scotland

{{Short description|None}}

{{location map+|Scotland|float=right|width=280|caption=A map of the eight cities of [[Scotland]].|AlternativeMap=|places={{location map~ |Scotland |lat=55.9533 |long=-3.1883 |position=bottom|label_size=90 |label=[[Edinburgh]] |mark=Blue pog.svg}}

{{location map~ |Scotland |lat=55.8617 |long=-4.2583 |position=left | label_size=100 |label=[[Glasgow]] |mark=Blue pog.svg}}

{{location map~ |Scotland |lat=56.4620 |long=-2.9707 |position=right|label_size=90 |label=[[Dundee]] |mark=Blue pog.svg}}

{{location map~ |Scotland |lat=57.1499 |long=-2.0938 |position=top|label_size=90 |label=[[Aberdeen]] |mark=Blue pog.svg}}

{{location map~ |Scotland |lat=57.4778 |long=-4.2247 |position=top|label_size=90 |label=[[Inverness]] |mark=Blue pog.svg}}

{{location map~ |Scotland |lat=56.3950 |long=-3.4308 |position=left|label_size=90 |label=[[Perth, Scotland|Perth]] |mark=Blue pog.svg}}

{{location map~ |Scotland |lat=56.1165 |long=-3.9369 | position=left |
label_size=90 |label=[[Stirling]] |mark=Blue pog.svg}}

{{location map~ |Scotland |lat=56.0717 |long=-3.4522 |label_size=90 |label=[[Dunfermline]] |mark=Blue pog.svg}}}}

[[Scotland]] has eight cities. [[Edinburgh]] is the [[Cities of Scotland#Capital|capital city]] and [[Glasgow]] is the most populous. Scottish towns were granted [[Burgh|burghs]] or [[royal burgh]] status by Scottish kings, including by [[David I of Scotland]] and [[William the Lion]]. 

City status has later been granted by [[royal charter]] and [[Letters patent (United Kingdom)|letters patent]]. Scotland has gained new cities since the year 2000 via submitted bids to be awarded [[City status in the United Kingdom|city status]] as part of [[Jubilee|jubilees]] of the reigning [[Monarchy of the United Kingdom|British monarch]] or for other events, such as the [[millennium celebrations]]. [[Dunfermline]] is the latest to be awarded city status.{{Clear}}

== List of Scottish cities ==
{| class="wikitable sortable"
!Name in English<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=Scottish Cities {{!}} Scotland.org |url=https://www.scotland.org/about-scotland/scotlands-cities |access-date=2023-10-29 |website=Scotland |language=en}}</ref>
!Name in Scottish Gaelic
!Nickname<ref name=":0" />
!Council area
!Year granted or confirmed
! class="unsortable" |Recognition of Church by King or bishopric established
! data-sort-type="number" |Population<ref name=":0" />
|-
|[[Edinburgh]]
|Dùn Èideann
|Auld Reekie
|[[City of Edinburgh council area|City of Edinburgh]]
|
* ~1124 as a [[royal burgh]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=Royal Burgh - 900th Anniversary Working Group - Proposal |url=https://democracy.edinburgh.gov.uk/mgConvert2PDF.aspx?ID=5072}}</ref>
* 1633 as a city<ref name=":19">{{Cite web |title=The entertainment of the high and mighty monarch Charles King of Great Britaine, France, and Ireland, into his auncient and royall city of Edinburgh, the fifteenth of Iune, 1633 |url=https://quod.lib.umich.edu/cgi/t/text/text-idx?c=eebo;idno=A18463.0001.001 |access-date=2023-10-29 |website=quod.lib.umich.edu}}</ref>
|[[File:Edinburgh, High Kirk of St. Giles ('St. Giles Cathedral') - geograph.org.uk - 4168020.jpg|frameless]]
[[St Giles' Cathedral]]

* St Giles founded in 1124 by [[David I of Scotland]] (or [[Alexander I of Scotland|Alexander I]])<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Origins of St Giles' |url=https://www.stgilescathedral.org.uk/the-origins-of-st-giles |access-date=2023-11-05 |website=St Giles Cathedral |language=en-GB}}</ref>
* [[St Cuthbert's Church, Edinburgh|St Cuthbert's Church]] Granted by David I to Holyrood in 1128.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Corpus of Scottish medieval parish churches: Dunblane and Dunkeld dioceses |url=https://arts.st-andrews.ac.uk/corpusofscottishchurches/site.php?id=158552#TT_button |access-date=2023-11-05 |website=arts.st-andrews.ac.uk}}</ref>
|495,360
|-
|[[Perth, Scotland|Perth]]
|Peairt
|The Fair City
|[[Perth and Kinross]]
|
* 1124 as a royal burgh<ref name=":11">{{Cite web |last=Marshall |first=Jennifer |date=2015-06-10 |title=First Burgh Charter |url=http://www.stirlingarchives.scot/2015/06/10/first-burgh-charter/ |access-date=2023-10-30 |language=en-GB}}</ref> 
* 1210 as a royal burgh<ref>{{Cite book |last1=Marshall |first1=Thomas Hay |url= |title=The History of Perth: From the Earliest Period to the Present Time |last2=Adamson |first2=Henry |date=1849 |publisher=J. Fisher |pages=435 |language=en}}</ref><ref name=":9">{{Cite web |title=CITY OF PERTH |url=https://edm.parliament.uk/early-day-motion/27290/city-of-perth}}</ref> 
* 1600 as a city<ref name=":9" /> 
* (Ended city status in 1975)<ref name=":10" /> 
* 2012 as a city<ref name=":10">{{Cite news |date=2012-03-14 |title=Perth wins Diamond Jubilee contest to be named seventh Scottish city |language=en-GB |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-tayside-central-17365611 |access-date=2023-10-29}}</ref>  
|[[File:St John's Kirk - geograph.org.uk - 2683004.jpg|frameless]]
[[St John's Kirk]]

* Grant from King David in 1126<ref>{{Cite web |title=History of St John's |url=https://www.st-johns-kirk.co.uk/history-of-st-johns |access-date=2023-11-05 |website=St John's Kirk |language=en}}</ref>
|50,000
|-
|[[Aberdeen]]
|Obar Dheathain
|The Granite City
|[[Aberdeen City council area|Aberdeen City]]
|
* As a royal burgh in ~1124<ref name=":12">{{Cite web |title=Search Results |url=https://archives.aberdeencity.gov.uk/CalmView/Record.aspx?src=Catalog&id=CA+ |access-date=2023-10-30 |website=archives.aberdeencity.gov.uk}}</ref>
* As a royal burgh in 1179<ref name=":13">{{Cite book |last=Kennedy |first=William |url= |title=Annals of Aberdeen, from the reign of king William the lion |date=1818 |pages=8 |language=en}}</ref>
* 1891 as a city<ref name=":14">{{Cite web |title=Search Results |url=https://archives.aberdeencity.gov.uk/CalmView/Record.aspx?src=Catalog&id=CA+ |access-date=2023-10-29 |website=archives.aberdeencity.gov.uk}}</ref><ref name=":15" />
|[[File:St Machar's Cathedral, Old Aberdeen - geograph.org.uk - 2638325.jpg|frameless]]
[[St Machar's Cathedral]]

* [[Mortlach Parish Church|Mortlach Church]] expanded by [[Malcolm II of Scotland]] in 1010.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Aberdeenshire Council Historic Environment Record - Moray - NJ33NW0004 - MORTLACH PARISH CHURCH |url=https://online.aberdeenshire.gov.uk/smrpub/master/detail.aspx?refno=NJ33NW0004 |access-date=2023-11-05 |website=online.aberdeenshire.gov.uk}}</ref>
* Tradition that [[Bishopric]] was translated to Aberdeen in 1125 with evidence for 1150.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Aberdeenshire Council Historic Environment Record - Aberdeen City - NJ90NW0019 - ST MACHAR'S CATHEDRAL |url=https://online.aberdeenshire.gov.uk/smrpub/master/detail.aspx?refno=NJ90NW0019 |access-date=2023-11-05 |website=online.aberdeenshire.gov.uk}}</ref>
|197,000
|-
|[[Inverness]]
|Inbhir Nis
|The Capital of the Highlands
|[[Highland (council area)|Highland]]
|
* As a royal burgh 1124-53<ref name=":17">{{Cite book |url= |title=The County Histories of Scotland |date=1897 |publisher=W. Blackwood and Sons |pages=18 |language=en}}</ref><ref name=":18">{{Cite book |last=Murphy |first=Alan |url= |title=Scotland Highlands & Islands Footprint Handbook |date=2014-04-10 |publisher=Footprint Travel Guides |isbn=978-1-909268-62-3 |pages=167 |language=en}}</ref>
* 2000 as a city<ref name=":16">{{Cite news |date=2000-12-18 |title=Inverness awarded city status |language=en-GB |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/scotland/1076125.stm |access-date=2023-10-29}}</ref>
|[[File:Old High Church of Inverness - geograph.org.uk - 4955051.jpg|frameless]]
[[Old High St Stephen's|Old High Church St Stephen's]]

* Founded in the 12th century<ref>{{Cite book |last=Murphy |first=Alan |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=O6d8AwAAQBAJ&dq=old+high+church+inverness+founded&pg=PA170 |title=Scotland Highlands & Islands Footprint Handbook |date=2014-04-10 |publisher=Footprint Travel Guides |isbn=978-1-909268-62-3 |pages=170 |language=en}}</ref>
* First references in a charter by [[Alexander II of Scotland|Alexander II]]  in 1240<ref>{{Cite web |title=MHG17457 - Old High Church, Inverness - Highland Historic Environment Record |url=https://her.highland.gov.uk/monument/MHG17457 |access-date=2023-11-05 |website=her.highland.gov.uk}}</ref>
|47,000
|-
|[[Stirling]]
|Sruighlea
|Gateway to the Highlands
|[[Stirling (council area)|Stirling]]
|
* 1124 as a royal burgh<ref name=":11" />

* 2002 as a city<ref name=":3">{{Cite news |date=2002-03-14 |title=Stirling elevated to city status |language=en-GB |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/scotland/1872739.stm |access-date=2023-10-29}}</ref>
|[[File:Dunblane Cathedral - geograph.org.uk - 1829589.jpg|frameless]]
[[Dunblane Cathedral]]

* Catholic Bishopric founded by the [[Earl of Strathearn]] ~1150 but [[Celts|Celtic]]\[[Culdees]] bishops prior.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Historical Introduction to the Cathedral {{!}} Dunblane Cathedral |url=https://www.dunblanecathedral.org.uk/dunblane-cathedral/historical-introduction-cathedral |access-date=2023-11-05 |website=www.dunblanecathedral.org.uk |language=en}}</ref>
|37,000
|-
|[[Dunfermline]]
|Dùn Phàrlain
|The Ancient Capital
|[[Fife]]
|
* ~1124 as a royal burgh<ref name=":11" />
* 2022 as a city<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=Council |first=Fife |date=2022-05-20 |title=Dunfermline granted City status by Queen |url=https://www.fife.gov.uk/news/2022/dunfermline-granted-city-status-by-queen |access-date=2023-10-29 |website=www.fife.gov.uk |language=en}}</ref>
|[[File:Dunfermline Abbey - geograph.org.uk - 2599053.jpg|frameless]]
[[Dunfermline Abbey]]

* In 1070, [[Saint Margaret of Scotland|Margaret, Queen of Scots]] founded a priory where she married Malcolm III.<ref name=":23">{{Cite web |title=History |url=https://www.historicenvironment.scot/visit-a-place/places/dunfermline-abbey-and-palace/history/ |access-date=2023-11-05 |website=www.historicenvironment.scot |language=en}}</ref>
* [[David I of Scotland|David I]] made the priory an abbey in 1128 and built a new church.<ref name=":23" />
|54,990
|-
|[[Glasgow]]
|Glaschu
|Dear Green Place
|[[Glasgow City council area|Glasgow City]]
|
* 1172<ref>{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=K0joDikUZGwC |title=The Edinburgh Gazetteer, Or Compendious Geographical Dictionary ... Abridged from the Larger Work in Six Volumes, Etc |date=1824 |publisher=Archibald Constable&Company |pages=270 |language=en}}</ref> or 1175 as a [[burgh]]<ref name=":5">{{Cite web |title=Charters and Documents relating to the City of Glasgow 1175-1649 {{!}} British History Online |url=https://www.british-history.ac.uk/glasgow-charters/1175-1649/no2 |access-date=2023-10-29 |website=www.british-history.ac.uk}}</ref><ref name=":6">{{Cite web |date=2023-10-28 |title=Council leader says Glasgow's 850th anniversary is opportunity to bring city together |url=https://uk.news.yahoo.com/council-leader-says-glasgows-850th-105944598.html |access-date=2023-10-29 |website=Yahoo News |language=en-GB}}</ref>
* 1476 as a city<ref name=":8">{{Cite web |title=XXXII: Charter of James III confirming the City and Barony in free regality (1476) {{!}} British History Online |url=https://www.british-history.ac.uk/glasgow-charters/1175-1649/no2/pp60-65 |access-date=2023-10-30 |website=www.british-history.ac.uk}}</ref>
|[[File:Cathedrale-st-mungo-Glasgow.jpg|frameless]]
[[Glasgow Cathedral]]

* First stone building was consecrated in ~1136 in the presence of King David I and his Court when John (1117-1147) was Bishop.<ref>{{Cite web |title=History – Glasgow Cathedral |url=https://glasgowcathedral.org/history/ |access-date=2023-11-05 |language=en-GB}}</ref>
|598,830
|-
|[[Dundee]]
|Dùn Dè 
|City of Discovery
|[[Dundee City council area|Dundee City]]
|
* ~1191 as a royal burgh<ref name=":7">{{Cite book |last=Urquhart |first=Robert Mackenzie |url= |title=Scottish Burgh and County Heraldry |date=1973 |publisher=Gale Research Company |isbn=978-0-8103-2005-5 |pages=46 |language=en}}</ref>
* 1889 as a city<ref name=":15">{{Cite book |last=Beckett |first=John |url= |title=City Status in the British Isles, 1830–2002 |date=2017-07-05 |publisher=Taylor & Francis |isbn=978-1-351-95126-5 |pages=17 |language=en}}</ref><ref name=":2">{{Cite book |last=Beckett |first=John |url= |title=City Status in the British Isles, 1830–2002 |date=2017-07-05 |publisher=Taylor & Francis |isbn=978-1-351-95126-5 |pages=17 |language=en}}</ref>
|[[File:Dundee City Churches (St Mary's)-geograph-2679665.jpg|frameless]]
[[Dundee Parish Church (St Mary's)]]

* Built ~1190 by [[David, Earl of Huntingdon]]<ref>{{Cite book |last=Thomson |first=James C. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=92Q_AQAAMAAJ&pg=PA281 |title=The History of Dundee: From the Earliest to the Present Time, Embracing an Account of Its Manufactures, Commerce, & Shipping, Its Antiquities, Civil and Ecclesisastical, with the Ancient Rent-rolls, Charters, and an Account of the Barony of Dundee |date=1847 |publisher=Robert Walker |page=281 |language=en}}</ref>
|150,000
|}

== Population and population density ==
{| class="wikitable sortable"
! scope="col" | City
! scope="col" | Population ([[List of towns and cities in Scotland by population#Localities|locality]])({{United Kingdom statistics year|ScotSettlement}})<ref name="population source">{{United Kingdom district population citation|Scotland}}</ref>
! scope="col" | Population ([[List of towns and cities in Scotland by population#Settlements|settlement]])({{United Kingdom statistics year|ScotSettlement}})<ref name="population source"></ref>
! scope="col" | Locality area km{{sup|2}}<ref name="citypopulation_locality_area">{{cite web |url=https://www.citypopulation.de/en/uk/cities/scotland/ |title=City Population, United Kingdom: Major Cities in Scotland |access-date=17 April 2024}}</ref>
! scope="col" | Settlement area km{{sup|2}}<ref name="citypopulation_settlement_area">{{cite web |url=https://www.citypopulation.de/en/uk/cities/scotlandua |title=City Population, United Kingdom: Urban Areas in Scotland |access-date=17 April 2024}}</ref>
! scope="col" | Density (locality) per km{{sup|2}}
! scope="col" | Density (settlement) per km{{sup|2}}
|-
|| [[Glasgow]]
|| {{Scottish locality populations|name|POP=Glasgow}}
|| {{Scottish settlement populations|name|POP=Greater Glasgow}}
|| 147
|| 274
|| {{#expr: 632350 / 147 round -1}}
|| {{#expr: 1028220 / 274 round -1}}
|-
|| [[Edinburgh]]
|| {{Scottish locality populations|name|POP=Edinburgh}}
|| {{Scottish settlement populations|name|POP=Edinburgh}}
|| 119
|| 126
|| {{#expr: 506520 / 119 round -1}}
|| {{#expr: 530990 / 126 round -1}}
|-
|| [[Aberdeen]]
|| {{Scottish locality populations|name|POP=Aberdeen}}
|| {{Scottish settlement populations|name|POP=Aberdeen, Milltimber, and Peterculter}}
|| 60.7
|| 75.6
|| {{#expr: 198590 / 60.7 round -1}}
|| {{#expr: 220690 / 75.6 round -1}}
|-
|| [[Dundee]]
|| {{Scottish locality populations|name|POP=Dundee}}
|| {{Scottish settlement populations|name|POP=Dundee}}
|| 46.5
|| 50.2
|| {{#expr: 148210 / 46.5 round -1}}
|| {{#expr: 158820 / 50.2 round -1}}
|-
|| [[Dunfermline]]
|| {{Scottish locality populations|name|POP=Dunfermline}}
|| {{Scottish settlement populations|name|POP=Dunfermline}}
|| 19.9
|| 28.8
|| {{#expr: 54990 / 19.9 round -1}}
|| {{#expr: 76210 / 28.8 round -1}}
|-
|| [[Inverness]]
|| {{Scottish locality populations|name|POP=Inverness}}
|| {{Scottish settlement populations|name|POP=Inverness and Culloden}}
|| 24.3
|| 31.3
|| {{#expr: 47790 / 24.3 round -1}}
|| {{#expr: 63730  / 31.3 round -1}}
|-
|| [[Perth, Scotland|Perth]]
|| {{Scottish locality populations|name|POP=Perth}}
|| {{Scottish settlement populations|name|POP=Perth}}
|| 17.5
|| 17.5
|| {{#expr: 47350 / 17.5 round -1}}
|| {{#expr: 47350 / 17.5 round -1}}
|-
|| [[Stirling]]
|| {{Scottish locality populations|name|POP=Stirling}}
|| {{Scottish settlement populations|name|POP=Stirling}}
|| 16.3
|| 20.9
|| {{#expr: 37910 / 16.3 round -1}}
|| {{#expr: 49950 / 20.9 round -1}}
|}

== Capital ==

=== Forteviot ===
[[File:Malcolm IV, King of Scotland, charter to Kelso Abbey, 1159, initial (crop David I).jpg|thumb|195x195px|[[David I of Scotland|Dauíd mac Maíl Choluim]], King of Scots]]
The annals of Ulster cite [[Forteviot]] as the residence of [[List of kings of the Picts|Pictish kings]] [[Causantín mac Fergusa]] and [[Kenneth MacAlpin]] and that upon the destruction of Forteviot by the Danes, the Picts took residence across the [[river Tay]], establishing Scone as a more defensible royal city.<ref name=":22">{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=EzBFAQAAMAAJ&dq=forteviot+ancient+capital&pg=PA275 |title=Archaeologia Scotica: Or, Transactions of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland |date=1831 |pages=275–276 |language=en}}</ref>

=== Scone ===
[[Causantín mac Áeda]], King of Scots held the first recorded council at [[Scone, Scotland|Scone]] in 906.<ref name=":20">{{Cite web |title=History of Scone |url=https://www.scone-palace.co.uk/history-of-scone |access-date=2023-10-30 |website=Scone Palace |language=en-GB}}</ref> [[Malcolm IV of Scotland]] in a charter to the monastery of Scone states it was founded "in principali sede regni nostri".<ref name=":21">{{Cite book |last=Scotland |first=Society of Antiquaries of |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=VBQnAQAAIAAJ |title=Proceedings of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland |date=1871 |publisher=Society |pages=86 |language=en}}</ref> [[Alexander III of Scotland]] became the first King of Scots to be crowned rather than enthroned in 1249 at Scone.<ref name=":20" /> Scone was described by [[John of Fordun]] on the crowning of as the "sedes superior", the principal seat of Scotland.<ref name=":21" /> [[Perth, Scotland|Perth]]  was made a royal burgh by [[David I of Scotland]] in ~1124.<ref name=":11" /> Scone is likely to have remained the Scottish capital until the reign of [[Malcolm III of Scotland]].<ref name=":22" />

=== Edinburgh ===
Scone remained the capital until 1437 until this status shifted to [[Edinburgh]]. The name Edinburgh comes from the old [[Celtic languages|Celtic]] for area, ''Eidyn'' and ''burgh'', which means fortress. Edinburgh has been inhabited since at least 8500BC, when it was inhabited by [[Old Welsh|Welsh]]-speaking [[Celtic Britons]], and came under Scottish rule around 960CE after [[Indulf]] King of Scots seized it.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Follett |first=Chelsea |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=-nDMEAAAQBAJ |title=Centers of Progress: 40 Cities That Changed the World |date=2023-09-19 |publisher=Cato Institute |isbn=978-1-952223-66-2 |language=en}}</ref> When [[James I of Scotland]] was killed in 1437, [[James II of Scotland]] moved the royal court from Perth to Edinburgh.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Brown |first=Karen |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=WQy_M_y9yCYC |title=Karen Brown's England, Wales and Scotland: Exceptional Places to Stay and Itineraries |date=2006 |publisher=Karen Brown's Guides |isbn=978-1-933810-02-7 |pages=84 |language=en}}</ref> [[James III of Scotland]] (1451–88) later referred to it as "the principal burgh of our kingdom".<ref>{{Cite book |last1=Dickinson |first1=William Croft |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=MfJZAAAAIAAJ |title=A New History of Scotland: Scotland from the earliest times to 1603, by W.C. Dickinson |last2=Pryde |first2=George Smith |date=1961 |publisher=T. Nelson |language=en}}</ref> In 1633 [[Charles I of England|Charles I]] referred to Edinburgh in a charter as the "principal burgh of our kingdom of Scotland" and "the chief city".<ref>{{Cite book |last=Lees |first=James Cameron |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=QVcLAAAAYAAJ |title=St. Giles', Edinburgh: Church, College, and Cathedral, from the Earliest Times to the Present Day |date=1889 |publisher=W. & R. Chambers |pages=204 |language=en}}</ref>

== City status ==
[[File:William the Lion.jpg|thumb|[[William the Lion|Uilleam an Leòmhann]] (William the Lion)]][[Glasgow]] was recognised in 1175 via the granting of a [[burgh]] in a charter by [[William the Lion]].<ref name=":5" /><ref name=":6" /> In 1476, Charter of [[James III of Scotland]] confirmed "the City and Barony in free regality".<ref name=":8" />

[[Edinburgh]] was recognised as a royal burgh from ~1124, introduced by David I of Scotland as part of his [[Feudalism|feudalisation]] after ascending to the throne in 1124.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Royal Burgh - 900th Anniversary Working Group - Proposal |url=https://democracy.edinburgh.gov.uk/mgConvert2PDF.aspx?ID=5072}}</ref> In 1329, Robert the Bruce granted Edinburgh a town charter.<ref>{{Cite book |last= |first= |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ea-bAAAAQBAJ&dq=edinburgh+capital+1437&pg=PA597 |title=Britannica Concise Encyclopedia |date=2008-05-01 |publisher=Encyclopaedia Britannica, Inc. |isbn=978-1-59339-492-9 |pages=597 |language=en}}</ref> It was then made a city in 1633 by [[Charles I of England|Charles I]].<ref name=":19" />

[[Dundee]] was created a royal burgh in ~1191 by William the Lion.<ref name=":7" /> Dundee was then granted city status via letters patent by [[Queen Victoria]] in 1889. The Charter recited previous charters granted to Dundee including the Confirmation by [[Robert the Bruce]] in 1327, which recited those of William the Lion circa 1191.<ref name=":2" /><ref>{{Cite web |title=CITY of DUNDEE |url=https://www.dundeecity.gov.uk/dundeecity/uploaded_publications/publication_69.pdf}}</ref>

[[Aberdeen]] was granted royal burgh status by King David of Scotland (1124 - 1153).<ref name=":12" /> It was also most likely granted royal burgh status by King William the Lion in 1179.<ref name=":13" /> In 1891 Aberdeen was given city status by letters patent.<ref name=":15" /><ref name=":14" />

[[Inverness]] was made a royal burgh by King David I.<ref name=":17" /><ref name=":18" /> In 2000, Inverness was awarded city status.<ref name=":16" />

[[Stirling]] became a royal burgh in ~1124.<ref name=":11" /> In 2002 it became a city.<ref name=":3" />

[[Perth, Scotland|Perth]] was made a royal burgh by [[David I of Scotland]] in ~1124.<ref name=":11" /> [[James VI and I|James VI]]'s Golden Charter to Perth in 1600 referred to it as a "free city and regal and royal burgh".<ref>{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=BYBbAAAAQAAJ |title=Charter by King James VI. in Favour of the Town of Perth. Dated 15th November 1600. And a Translation}}</ref> It was officially the second city of Scotland until 1975 when city status was removed when local government was reorganised. It regained the status in 2012.<ref name=":4">{{Cite news |date=2012-03-14 |title=Perth wins Diamond Jubilee contest to be named seventh Scottish city |language=en-GB |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-tayside-central-17365611 |access-date=2023-10-29}}</ref>

[[Dunfermline]] was also made a royal burgh in ~1124 by David I of Scotland.<ref name=":11" /> In 2022 it became the newest Scottish city.<ref name=":1" />

=== Recent bids ===
[[File:St Rule's Tower & Western Turrets from St Andrews Cathedral's Former Courtyard.jpg|thumb|221x221px|[[St Andrews Cathedral]] ]]
In 1999, [[Ayr]], Inverness, [[Paisley, Renfrewshire|Paisley]] and Stirling applied for city status and Inverness was successful in 2000.<ref>{{Cite web |title=MILLENNIUM CITY STATUS COMPETITION - WINNING CITIES ANNOUNCED |url=https://www.wired-gov.net/wg/wg-news-1.nsf/54e6de9e0c383719802572b9005141ed/1104ddcd7b4745ba802572ab004b39bb?OpenDocument |access-date=2023-10-29 |website=www.wired-gov.net}}</ref>

In 2001, Ayr, [[Dumfries]], Paisley and Stirling applied for city status.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2001-10-13 |title=Four bids for city status |language=en-GB |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/scotland/1596563.stm |access-date=2023-10-29}}</ref> Stirling was successful in 2002.<ref name=":3" />

In 2012, Perth was the only Scottish bid for city status and was successful.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Results of Diamond Jubilee Civic Honours Competition announced |url=https://www.gov.uk/government/news/results-of-diamond-jubilee-civic-honours-competition-announced |access-date=2023-10-29 |website=GOV.UK }}</ref>

Dumfries, Dunfermline, [[Elgin, Moray|Elgin]], [[Greenock]], [[Livingston, West Lothian|Livingston]], [[Oban]], [[St Andrews]] and [[South Ayrshire]] submitted bids for city status in 2021.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2021-12-23 |title=Queen's Platinum Jubilee: Eight parts of Scotland seek city status |language=en-GB |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-south-scotland-59754670 |access-date=2023-10-29}}</ref> Dunfermline was successful in its city bid for 2022.<ref name=":1" />

== See also ==

* [[List of burghs in Scotland]]
* [[Royal burgh]]
* [[Burgh]]
* [[List of towns and cities in Scotland by population|List of built-up areas in Scotland by population]]
* [[List of cathedrals in Scotland]]
* [[List of oldest buildings in Scotland]]

== References ==
{{reflist}}{{Geography of Scotland}}{{Scotland topics}}

[[Category:Cities in Scotland|*]]
[[Category:Geography of Scotland]]
[[Category:Scotland geography-related lists]]
[[Category:Scotland politics-related lists]]