The National Covenant (Scottish Gaelic: An Cùmhnant Nàiseanta)[1][2] was an agreement signed by many people of Scotland during 1638, opposing the proposed reforms of the Church of Scotland (also known as the Kirk) by King Charles I. The king's efforts to impose changes on the church in the 1630s caused widespread protests across Scotland, leading to the organisation of committees to coordinate opposition to the king. Facing royal opposition, its leaders arranged the creation of the National Covenant to bolster the movement by tapping into patriotic fervour. It became widely adopted throughout most of Scotland with supporters henceforth known as Covenanters.
The Covenant opposed changes to the Church of Scotland, and committed its signatories to stand together in the defence of the nation's religion. Charles saw this as an act of rebellion against his rule, leading to the Bishops' Wars and beginning the Wars of the Three Kingdoms. The expenses of fighting the Bishops' Wars required the king to summon the Short Parliament and Long Parliament in England, his disputes with which led to the outbreak of the English Civil War.
- ^ "An Cùmhnant Nàiseanta Am Faclair Beag Gaelic Dictionary". www.cairnwater.co.uk. Archived from the original on 13 October 2020. Retrieved 12 October 2020.
- ^ "An Cùmhnant Nàiseanta – Aonadh nan Crùn gu Aonadh nam Pàrlamaid – Scotlands History". www.e-storas.com.