edinburgh32 AD 1573 The Castle and the "Lang Siege" On 16 May 1568 Mary, Queen of Scots, fled to England and her infant son James became King of Scots. She left behind a divided nation. Sir William Kirkcaldy of Grange was keeper of Edinburgh Castle in 1571 when he decided to come out openly in support of the exiled Queen. The King's supporters immediately laid siege to the castle but since the best artillery was inside the castle, it proceeded inconclusively for two years -- when it's name -- the "Lang (long) Siege". Kirkcaldy's stout defense of the castle came to an end only after England had sent a large force and heavy artillery at the request of the King's party, led by Regent Morton. In May 1573, after a devastating eleven-day bombardment, the East defenses of the medieval castle came crashing to the ground. Kirkcaldy surrendered and was executed. Almost immediately Regent Morton put in hand the work of rebuilding the shattered castle. Much of what you see today dates from this time, including the mighty Half-Moon Battery and the Portcullis Gate.