The purple thistle was adopted as the Emblem of Scotland during the rein of Alexander III (1249 -1286). Legend has it that an Army of King Haakon of Norway, intent on conquering the Scots landed at the Coast of Largs at night to surprise the sleeping Scottish Clansmen. In order to move more stealthily under the cover of darkness the Norsemen removed their footwear. As they drew near to the Scots, one of Haakon's men trod on a thistle and shrieked out in pain, alerting the Clansmen to the advancing Norsemen who were subsequently vanquished! The first use of the Thistle as a royal symbol of Scotland was on silver coins issued by James III in 1470