Castle Fraser was built between 1575 and 1636 by the 6th Laird of Fraser, Michael Fraser. It is one of the largest tower houses in Scotland and served as home to the Fraser family for over 400 years. The fortunes of the Frasers, and their castle, took a series of knocks during the rest of the 1600s. Andrew Fraser, 2nd Lord Fraser, inherited the estate in 1636 and was a strong opponent of King Charles I’s efforts to impose an Anglican pattern on the Church in Scotland and became an avid Covenanter: making him in some eyes a rebel against the king. As a Covenanter, Andrew Fraser took a direct hand in the early stages of the conflict, leading the sacking of the Bishop’s Palace in Aberdeen. In retaliation, Royalist forces under Lord Aboyne attacked Fraser’s castle and, though they failed to capture it, they were able to destroy crops and agricultural buildings on the estate. In 1644 during the Wars of the Three Kingdoms, Castle Fraser was again attacked, this time by the Royalist commander, James Graham, Marquis of Montrose, who devastated the surrounding estate but, lacking time or siege equipment, left the castle untouched. In 1715, Charles Fraser supported John Erskine, Earl of Mar when he started the Jacobite rebellion. The uprising was short-lived and, following the Battle of Sheriffmuir, was ultimately defused. Mar fled to France leaving Charles a fugitive; he died in 1719 falling down a cliff whilst being pursued by Government forces. In 1897 the last male Fraser of the direct line, Frederick Mackenzie Fraser, died childless. In 1921 his widow, Theodora, sold the castle due to the lack of a suitable heir and mounting financial difficulties. The buyer was Weetman Pearson, 1st Viscount Cowdray. The Pearson family restored the castle as a shooting lodge, before giving it to the National Trust for Scotland in 1976, who continue to care for the castle today. This video was taken with permission from the National Trust for Scotland. #Scotland #history #castle #scottishtiktok #travel #fyp #explore #scottish #visitscotland #beautifuldestinations #vacation #viral #explorepage - @castlesofscotland