For more than 600 years most of Scotland had been part of the Kingdom of Norway. By 1263 Norway seemed to no longer have any interest in Scotland and King Alexander III proposed to buy back the Western Isles and Kintyre, still Norwegian territory.

This re-awoke Norse interest in Scotland and King Haakon IV attacked with a large force to re-establish his authority. The Norsemen tried to surprise the Scots by landing on the Coast of Largs at night. The attackers removed their footwear for a silent approach but found themselves on ground covered with thistle. It is said that one of the men stepped on thistle spines and thorns and cried out. His shouts warned the Scots, who then defeated the Norsemen, thus saving Scotland.

The first use of the Scottish Thistle as a royal symbol was on silver coins issued by James III in 1470.