Inverness: gateway city of the Scottish Highlands

Prehistoric traces can be found in the Clava Cairn of Culdoich.

Inverness was one of the main castles of the Picts and was visited in 565 by Columban of Iona, who had the aim of proselytizing the Picts' king Brude I. Brude I ruled from the fortress on Craig Phadrig hill (168 m), 2.4 km west of the present city centre.

St Michael's Mount was the site of a church and small monastery founded by early Celtic monks. This hill is close to the river and is now the site of the Old High Church.

The castle above the city of Inverness was built by King Malcolm III. (Máel Coluim mac Donnchada, * 1030, † 1093), eldest son of Duncan I (Donnchad mac Crináin, * 1001, † 1040). The reign of King Duncan I was marked by conflict with his cousin Macbeth (Mac Bethad mac Findlàich, * 1005, † 1057), the exact circumstances of which are not known. All that is known is that Duncan I was killed by Macbeth at the battle near Elgin. In William Shakespeare's account, however, Macbeth had killed Duncan I at Inverness Castle, and Malcolm III is said to have avenged his father's death by destroying the castle so that a new complex could be built on the site.

The strategic location of Inverness has led to many conflicts in the region. Allegedly, there was a battle in the early 11th century between King Malcolm III and Thorfinn of Norway at Blar Nam Feinne, to the southwest of the city.

The city of Inverness was attacked several times by inhabitants of the Hebrides, most notably in the 15th century by the MacDonald clan. In 1187, Donald Bane led the enemy islanders in the Battle of Torvean against the men of Inverness Castle led by Duncan Mackintosh. Both were killed in the battle, Donald Bane is said to have been buried in a large cairn near the river. An elaborate silver chain was found in the area in 1968.

Other battles against the MacDonald clan are recorded from 1340 (Battle of Blairnacoi on Drumderfit Hill), 1411 and 1427 (Donald of Islay and James I laid siege to the town). In 1554 the Munro clan defeated the Mackintosh clan at the Battle of Clachnaharry west of the town. The MacDonald clan and their allies stormed Inverness Castle in 1491.

In 1562, the Queen of Scots Mary Stuart (b. 1542, † 1587) was denied entry to the city by the English governor in the Huntly Rebellion. The Munro and Fraser clans then took the castle for her. The house she lived in was in Bridge Street, it was demolished in the 1970s. Since 1986, Queen Mary I has been commemorated annually on the first Saturday after 15 August with Marymass Market.

Since the 11th century four fairs were held in Inverness, one of them was Legavrik. William I the Lion (* 1143, † 1214 at Stirling Castle) granted Inverness four charters, including the right to build Inverness Castle and fortify the city.

Alexander II. (1214-1249) founded a Dominican monastery in 1233, of which only a pillar and a weathered portrait of a knight survive in a secluded cemetery near the city center.

Under Oliver Cromwell (b. 1599, † 1658) a citadel was built on the northern boundary of the city, which could house over 1000 people. With the exception of part of the city wall, the site was demolished during the Restoration except for a bell tower. In 1715 the Jacobites occupied the royal fort and used it as barracks until 1746, and Fort George was built in 1727.

Not far from Inverness is Culloden Moor, it was the site of the Battle of Culloden in 1746 which ended the Jacobite Rebellion of 1745.

On 7 September 1921, the first British Cabinet meeting outside London was held in Inverness Town House, as British Prime Minister David Lloyd George was on holiday in Gairloch and called an extraordinary meeting to discuss the situation in Ireland. The Inverness Formula was the basis of the Anglo-Irish Treaty.

Most traditional industries, such as whisky distilling, have been replaced by high-tech companies.

Thus, the operation of the Inverness Distillery, founded in 1807, later Millburn Distillery, was discontinued in 1985 due to lack of expansion opportunities and sales difficulties during the whisky crisis. In 1988 the distillery was demolished, the remaining objects are currently only used as a restaurant and a small bottling plant.

Glen Albyn Distillery, Inverness, closed in 1983 and was demolished in 1988. Glen Mhor Distillery, Inverness, closed in 1983 and was demolished in 1986.

During these years, the rapid development of the company Inverness Medical Innovations took place. The company, which today operates as Alere Inc., produces exclusively blood glucose test kits (blood glucose meters) in Inverness and recorded annual sales of 2.28 billion US dollars in 2009.

The Highlands & Islands Enterprise Plan (HIE) funded the Health and Science Centre to attract more businesses in the medical technology and medical devices sectors.

NatureScot (by 2020 Scottish Natural Heritage) is an agency responsible for the conservation of Scotland's natural heritage. The headquarters were moved from Edinburgh to Inverness in 2003/2004 and provides a large number of jobs in the region.