When did Scotland become its own country?

The Kingdom of Scotland emerged as an independent state in the 9th century. Prior to this, Scotland was inhabited by various Celtic tribes and was part of the Roman Empire from the 1st to 5th centuries. The unification of the Picts and Scots under King Kenneth I MacAlpin in 843 marked the beginning of the Kingdom of Scotland. Scotland remained an independent kingdom until the Acts of Union in 1707, when it politically united with England to form the Kingdom of Great Britain.