I've been doing a bit of research on Celtic cultures and history lately and I feel that Scotland should be split into two cultures, a highland one (Highland Scottish, Gaelic, Highlander, Gaelic Scottish) and a lowland one (Lowland Scottish, Scottish, Scots, Lowlander) like it originally was in EU3. As far as I'm aware, the reason Highland Scottish was removed was to prevent patriots from defecting to Ireland/Brittany. Since there is a new rebel system and new tags can be added, I don't think that should be a problem anymore.
The reason I feel the cultures should be re-split is there was quite a difference in culture between the Lowlanders and Highlanders in Scotland. The Scottish Kingdom was dominated by the Lowlands as they were the more populous area of Scotland. The Lowlanders also were also much more similar to English culture then they were to the Highlanders. They spoke a Germanic language Scots, which is very similar to English. The lowland Scots created ties with the French and English nobility, with king David I introducing English institutions such as feudal land tenure, replacing Scottish nobles with Anglo-Norman nobility, and court systems similar to those in England in the 12th century. Later on in history, the Lowlands were more in line with the English as well, such as accepting Protestantism and supporting the Hanoverian over the Jacobites.
The Highlanders however had more in common with the Irish than the lowlanders. The Highlanders spoke Scottish Gaelic, a Celtic language very similar to Irish. The feudal system wasn't near as developed in the Highlands as it was in the Lowlands and the clan system dominated. Tannistry succession in the clans was common. Highlander/Clan rebellions against the Scottish kings weren't uncommon, such as the Battle of Lochaber in 1429, Battle of Harlaw in 1411, and the Rebellion of Domhnall Dubh in the 16th century. This is not to mention the most famous of the rebellions, the Jacobite Uprising in support of the Stuarts after the Glorious Revolution. After the rebellion failed, Highland culture was repressed with the banning of tartans and kilts and a number of acts were passed that severely limited the power of the clans. Much of the Highlands stuck to Catholicism during the Reformation in contrast to the Lowlands. The Highland Clearances were also created which forcibly removed the native Highlanders in favor of granting their land to Lowlanders to develop for sheep farming.
The difference in culture between the Highlanders and Lowlanders was apparent to contemporaries of the time:
Game mechanism wise, I feel that adding Highland culture would also add historical flavor while playing in the British Isles. Historically, Scottish kings had to invest a decent amount of effort keeping the clans subdued. When Scotland is small, Highlander would remain accepted representing the ability of kings to keep order there but if Scotland were to expand too much or England were to take over, the culture wouldn't be accepted leading to potential rebellion. The clearances and laws banning Highlander culture could also be seen as a type of technical "culture conversion." It would also give Irish minors another culturally safe place to expand, now that Brittany is in the French group.
As for a Highlander tag, history gives us the title of Lord of the Isles or Innse Gall, which in the 15th century was still a disloyal vassal of the Scottish king. In February 1462 John of Islay signed the Treaty of Westminster-Ardtornish, which envisioned the Lord of the Isles gaining all land north of the River Forth in return for paying homage to the English king. Game mechanism wise, I would see this as a disloyal vassal getting support independence from England, winning the war and getting some territory then being diplovassalized by England. The war failed though and the Lordship of the Isles was absorbed into the Scottish Crown. Regardless, the Lord of the Isles was autonomous enough in 1444 to at least warrant cores, if not being a vassal of Scotland outright. If they were a vassal, I'd probably make them a tribal despotism with an option to form Scotland to get Feudal Monarchy.
Innse Gall (The Isles)
Primary Culture: Highlander (Celtic)
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Highlander Ideas:
Traditions
+50% Hostile Core Creation on Us
+1 Attrition for Enemies
Tanistry Succession: +1 Legitimacy
Claidheamh-mòr: +10% Infantry Combat Ability
Kelp Harvesting: +5% Production Efficiency
Lord of the Isles: +15% Naval Force Limit
Clan Autonomy: -5% Build Power Cost/Development Cost
Gallowglass: -10% Mercenary Cost
Highland Charge: +2 Land Leader Shock
Ambitions
+10 Global Settler Increase
The reason I feel the cultures should be re-split is there was quite a difference in culture between the Lowlanders and Highlanders in Scotland. The Scottish Kingdom was dominated by the Lowlands as they were the more populous area of Scotland. The Lowlanders also were also much more similar to English culture then they were to the Highlanders. They spoke a Germanic language Scots, which is very similar to English. The lowland Scots created ties with the French and English nobility, with king David I introducing English institutions such as feudal land tenure, replacing Scottish nobles with Anglo-Norman nobility, and court systems similar to those in England in the 12th century. Later on in history, the Lowlands were more in line with the English as well, such as accepting Protestantism and supporting the Hanoverian over the Jacobites.
The Highlanders however had more in common with the Irish than the lowlanders. The Highlanders spoke Scottish Gaelic, a Celtic language very similar to Irish. The feudal system wasn't near as developed in the Highlands as it was in the Lowlands and the clan system dominated. Tannistry succession in the clans was common. Highlander/Clan rebellions against the Scottish kings weren't uncommon, such as the Battle of Lochaber in 1429, Battle of Harlaw in 1411, and the Rebellion of Domhnall Dubh in the 16th century. This is not to mention the most famous of the rebellions, the Jacobite Uprising in support of the Stuarts after the Glorious Revolution. After the rebellion failed, Highland culture was repressed with the banning of tartans and kilts and a number of acts were passed that severely limited the power of the clans. Much of the Highlands stuck to Catholicism during the Reformation in contrast to the Lowlands. The Highland Clearances were also created which forcibly removed the native Highlanders in favor of granting their land to Lowlanders to develop for sheep farming.
The difference in culture between the Highlanders and Lowlanders was apparent to contemporaries of the time:
John of Fordun's Chronica Gentis Scotorum c. 1390 said:
Game mechanism wise, I feel that adding Highland culture would also add historical flavor while playing in the British Isles. Historically, Scottish kings had to invest a decent amount of effort keeping the clans subdued. When Scotland is small, Highlander would remain accepted representing the ability of kings to keep order there but if Scotland were to expand too much or England were to take over, the culture wouldn't be accepted leading to potential rebellion. The clearances and laws banning Highlander culture could also be seen as a type of technical "culture conversion." It would also give Irish minors another culturally safe place to expand, now that Brittany is in the French group.
As for a Highlander tag, history gives us the title of Lord of the Isles or Innse Gall, which in the 15th century was still a disloyal vassal of the Scottish king. In February 1462 John of Islay signed the Treaty of Westminster-Ardtornish, which envisioned the Lord of the Isles gaining all land north of the River Forth in return for paying homage to the English king. Game mechanism wise, I would see this as a disloyal vassal getting support independence from England, winning the war and getting some territory then being diplovassalized by England. The war failed though and the Lordship of the Isles was absorbed into the Scottish Crown. Regardless, the Lord of the Isles was autonomous enough in 1444 to at least warrant cores, if not being a vassal of Scotland outright. If they were a vassal, I'd probably make them a tribal despotism with an option to form Scotland to get Feudal Monarchy.
Innse Gall (The Isles)
Primary Culture: Highlander (Celtic)
----------------------------------------------
Highlander Ideas:
Traditions
+50% Hostile Core Creation on Us
+1 Attrition for Enemies
Tanistry Succession: +1 Legitimacy
Claidheamh-mòr: +10% Infantry Combat Ability
Kelp Harvesting: +5% Production Efficiency
Lord of the Isles: +15% Naval Force Limit
Clan Autonomy: -5% Build Power Cost/Development Cost
Gallowglass: -10% Mercenary Cost
Highland Charge: +2 Land Leader Shock
Ambitions
+10 Global Settler Increase
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