MSPs paid tribute to “political giant” Alex Salmond in the Scottish Parliament as they moved a motion of condolence in honour of the former first minister.
Salmond died suddenly after suffering a heart attack on October 12 in Ohrid, North Macedonia.
He led the country as the first minister from 2007 to 2014 and led the Yes movement in the 2014 independence referendum.
Tributes poured in from across UK civil society for Salmond, and on Tuesday, friends and family gathered for his funeral in Strichen.
Salmond's niece Christina Hendry, Alba Party chair Tasmina Ahmed-Skeikh and Alba Party acting leader Kenny MacAskill were all in the chamber for the tributes.
First Minister John Swinney, who had lodged the motion, led remarks, sharing: "I first met Alex in the SNP Club in North Saint Andrews Street in Edinburgh in 1981 when he'd come to speak to literally a handful of young Scottish nationalists, of which I was one, who were trying to stir things up in Edinburgh for our cause.
"Much of what I heard from Alec that day 43 years ago is reflected in the assessments we have heard in recent days of Alex's contribution to Scottish politics.
"He was creative in the arguments he put forward. He was driven to make the case for Scottish independence. He was fierce in his analysis of political rivals and determined to challenge their positions.
"He was, in short, 'a man o' independent mind', a reference taken from his favourite Burns poem, which summed up his politics and his aspirations."
Salmond was the leader of the SNP twice during Swinney's political career, from 1990 to 2000 and from 2004 to 2014. Swinney was his finance secretary from 2007.
Swinney later said he had to "acknowledge that our relationship changed over the last six years".
"We all know in life that human relationships can change one moment. They are strong the next, they are not. And politics is no different because politics at all levels is simply about people."
He added: "What cannot be denied by anyone is that Alex Salmond led the Scottish National Party from the fringes of Scottish politics to become the government of Scotland and to come so close to winning our country's independence that has changed Scotland and our politics forever.
"It is now up to those of us who believe that Scotland should be an independent country to make that case and to win that future," Swinney concluded.
Scottish Conservative Russell Findlay said he did not know Salmond and had never met him.
Findlay said he "did not know Alex Salmond the man", but knew him as Scotland knew him, "as the politician".
"He was a figure whose presence loomed large across my life and our country. Nationalist or Unionist, there was no ignoring him. As a former journalist, I appreciated his flair for understanding how to grab attention, and to make headlines", Findlay said.
Leader of Scottish Labour Anas Sarwar said it would be "hard to imagine the world of Scottish politics without Alex Salmond".
"From the 1980s to the present day, Alex Salmond was a mainstay of Scottish and UK politics. In Westminster and Holyrood, Alec dominated the political scene and excelled as a parliamentarian of pure skill and with a gift of a turn of phrase."
Sarwar further reflected on when he crossed paths with Salmond during the 2014 referendum, and how the former first minister "remained polite and civil despite the temperature of that debate".
Greens co-leader Patrick Harvie paid tribute to the sacrifice of Salmond's family over the years, having a leading politician as a husband, brother and uncle.
He added: "Especially in the wake of such an unexpected death, it's a moment to begin to acknowledge the impact of the life that has ended.
"People's lives and their legacies can be contested and they can be complicated so this is not the moment for an assessment of the entirety of the man, there will be more appropriate times for that. On the scale of Alex Salmond's impact on Scottish politics, that is something we can all acknowledge."
Alex Cole-Hamilton, leader of the Scottish Liberal Democrats echoed Harvie and said: "Today we recognise the substantial impact he had on our politics".
Alba Holyrood leader Ash Regan concluded the tributes, stating: "We gather today not only to mourn the loss of a political giant, but to celebrate the life and legacy of Alex Salmond, Scotland's most extraordinary first minister.
"Alec was not just a leader. He was a unifying force, awakening the political consciousness of a nation and inspiring us to dream bigger for ourselves and for Scotland.
"To Alex's, beloved wife Moira, his family Margaret, Gail, Bob and all who knew him closely, the thoughts and sincere condolences of all in the Alba party are with you.
"I hope the tributes pouring in from across Scotland and beyond offer some comfort during this difficult time and we stand beside you in your grief just as Alex stood beside Scotland in every battle, every challenge and every triumph."
