The Scottish thistle, a national emblem, is tied to a legend where it helped Scotland repel a Norse invasion. A barefoot invader's cry upon stepping on the sharp plant warned the Scots of the attack. The legendary tale of the thistle saving Scotland is tied to the historic Battle of Largs in 1263, an encounter between Scottish forces and a Norse fleet led by King Haakon of Norway. While the story of the barefoot warrior's cry is a cherished piece of folklore rather than a documented event, it ha