We explore the bloody battles and bitter betrayals of the Jacobite Wars. Historian Dr Arran Paul Johnston, FSAScot unravels the complex history of the Stuarts' final stand, separating myth from reality and revealing the fascinating sites visitors to Scotland can explore today
Who were the Jacobites?
The Jacobites were just like you and I, ordinary people drawn from a range of backgrounds, occupations and social classes.
There were Jacobites in Scotland, England and Ireland, as well as Jacobites living and working across Europe and beyond. Some were political thinkers or diplomats, professional soldiers, landowners or chieftains; others were farmers, clockmakers, merchants or labourers.
The Jacobites tried repeatedly to restore the Stuarts to the throne in Scotland, England and Ireland, through political manouevres, plots, and military uprisings.
The one thing that bound them together was their support for the exiled royal family - the Stuarts - who had been overthrown in 1688. The Jacobites tried repeatedly to restore the Stuarts to the throne in Scotland, England and Ireland, through political manouevres, plots, and military uprisings.
In Ireland, there was a major war from 1688-91; in Scotland there were uprisings in 1689, 1715, 1719, and 1745.
None were successful, and the Stuarts never returned to the throne.
Why were they called Jacobites?
The last Stuart king to rule was King James VII (of Scotland) & II (of England). James VII & II was the son of Charles I, and the brother of Charles II.
Before he became king, he had converted to the Catholic faith. In an age of intolerance and since there was only a tiny Catholic minority in the population, this was unpopular.
Although the king argued for freedom of conscience, many people feared he intended to make his kingdoms Catholic. Until 1688, however, they were calmed by the fact that both James' adult daughters were Protestants, so there would be no Catholic succession. This changed when his son was born that year, which was the final straw.
A group of James' opponents invited his son-in-law, Prince William of Orange, to invade England and remove James from the throne. Along with his wife and son, James fled to France. His supporters continued to recognise him as "the King across the Water". After James' death, they recognised his son - whose name was also James - as the true king.
Because the Latin word for James is Jacobus, supporters of the exiled king and his son became known as Jacobites.
Who were the Jacobites fighting for?
The Jacobites supported the restoration of James VII & II to the throne, and later his son James Francis Stuart.
Meanwhile, the parliaments of England and Scotland gave the thrones first to James' daughter and son-in-law, William and Mary, who were succeeded by James' younger sister Anne. Since none of Anne's children survived, and desperate not to allow the Stuarts back in, parliament had to find a suitable Protestant family to inherit the throne.
They chose George of Hanover (then an independent state in what is now Germany), who was descended from the Stuarts through a female line. This established the Hanoverian dynasty, which the Jacobites opposed.
Who was bonnie prince Charlie?
"Bonnie Prince Charlie" was Charles Edward Stuart. He was born in Rome in 1720, the son of James Francis Stuart. Jacobites considered him to be the Prince of Wales, and rightful heir to the throne once his father died.
Charles Edward grew up believing he was the best hope for his family's fortunes, and in 1745 he launched a surprise expedition to Scotland to claim the crown for his father.
Charles arrived in Scotland with just a handful of men, but soon managed to raise a substantial army.
At 24 years old, the prince was handsome and charismatic as well as having good military instincts despite his lack of experience. Nevertheless, he struggled to work with some of his leading supporters, was prone to bouts of frustration, and relied on a small circle of advisers which alienated others.
Charles arrived in Scotland with just a handful of men, but soon managed to raise a substantial army. His campaign scored some amazing achievements, capturing Edinburgh, defeating professional armies at Prestonpans and Falkirk, and reaching within 120 miles of London.
Ultimately, however, it was defeated at the Battle of Culloden in April 1746. The prince had to spend months on the run before finally escaping and lived the rest of his life in an unhappy exile.
Are Jacobites Catholic or Protestant?
The heads of the Jacobite cause - King James, his son James and his grandson Charles - were all Catholic. This helped secure the support of the kings of France and Spain, and the Papacy. Charles was more pragmatic about religion than his father or grandfather, and in 1750 he briefly converted to Protestantism in order to revitalise support.
For most Jacobites, it was a political and dynastic conflict rather than a religious one.
Despite their own Catholicism, however, most of the Stuarts' supporters in Scotland and England were Protestant. The Catholic populations in these countries were simply too small to provide an exclusive base of support.
For most Jacobites, it was a political and dynastic conflict rather than a religious one. Their opponents, however, used anti-Catholic propaganda to sustain support for the Hanoverian cause. This often led people to believe far more of the Jacobites were Catholic than was actually the case.
Why did the Jacobites want a Stuart on the throne?
It is important to recognise that Jacobitism was not just a purely Scottish movement. There were Jacobites in England too, just as there were those in Scotland who opposed the Jacobites.
After 1707, anti-Union feeling was mixed in with other Jacobite motivations too, but the main objective was to restore the Stuart line to the throne on both sides of the Border. As well as major war in Ireland from 1688-91, there were Jacobite Risings in 1689, 1715, 1719, and 1745.
The 1715 Rising in particular involved many English Jacobites, and several hundred Englishmen joined Bonnie Prince Charlie in 1745 too - although not as many as he had hoped. As the years went by, it became harder for the Stuarts in exile to sustain the enthusiasm for their cause, and to persuade people to risk their lives and fortunes for them. Nevertheless, Charles Edward was able to raise thousands of men from right across Scotland in 1745 - and not just from the Highlands as is commonly thought.
What were the key battles?
In Ireland, the key battles were the Boyne in 1690 and Aughrim in 1691 - the Battle of the Boyne in particular has left an important and divisive legacy.
In Scotland, the key battles were at Killiecrankie and Dunkeld (1689), Sheriffmuir (1715), Glenshiel (1719), and then Prestonpans (1745) and Falkirk (1746) - both Jacobite victories - followed by the final bloody defeat at Culloden (1746).
What would have happened if the Jacobites won?
If the Jacobites had succeeded in any of their conflicts, the male line of the House of Stuart would have regained the throne. We have no way of knowing how different world history might have been as a result - perhaps not a lot in the long-run.
It is unlikely that the whole population would have become Catholic, but a policy of greater religious toleration might have had profound impacts in Ireland especially. We would surely not have a law preventing Catholics from reigning in Britain, as we do today.
The 18th century was a time of major change in political and economic thinking, and imperial ambitious would surely have meant that European powers would have remained on a collision course overseas, although Britain would have been less invested in European conflicts without its need to maintain Hanover.
Why did the Jacobites fail?
The Jacobites were always at a disadvantage in terms of manpower and resources. From the moment King James lost control of England in 1688, the resources of the state were always held by their opponents. This meant that their enemies always had more men, money and equipment.
In their own words, it is more remarkable that they achieved so much than that they couldn't achieve more.
The Jacobites were often recruiting volunteer armies, often with little time for preparation and training, and their opponents were generally able to deploy experienced or professional forces against them. For this reason, they often relied on support from other powers, especially France to equip armies and finance campaigns.
In 1746, despite more battlefield success than in previous rising, the Jacobites simply could not muster the strength needed to overwhelm the power of a modern imperial state. In their own words, it is more remarkable that they achieved so much than that they couldn't achieve more.
How many Scots were executed after Culloden?
Anyone who fought for the Jacobites risked execution, imprisonment, exile, and the seizure of their property. That's assuming they survived the risks of battle. They were treated as rebels, so they were not protected by the normal rules of war.
After the Battle of Culloden (top picture), the Hanoverian regime was determined that the conflicts could not continue into another generation and the repression was severe. There were summary executions in the wake of the battle which cannot really be quantified.
Thousands of prisoners were taken too, and many tried and transported; but formal executions were generally limited to those who were considered to be the most senior and influential participants.
Bonnie Prince Charlie's legendary escape to Skye inspired the Skye Boat Song
How true were the events in Outlander and the conditions?
Many of the background characters in the Outlander series are real people, although the lead characters are fictional.
The depiction of real characters is often determined as much by the needs of the stories than historical reality, however, so readers/viewers should always be cautious when interpreting them. This has always been the case with historical fiction, even back to Walter Scott.
In Outlander, the portrayal of Charles Edward is probably the most extreme example: few people would have rallied behind a leader of the type depicted, and he seems unlikely to have inspired the lasting cultural legacy of the Bonnie Prince which we are so familiar with.
The same can be said of some of the settings and moods. Rarely was there a sense of military repression in Scotland prior to The '45, as the military forces based in Scotland were so small in number that they proved totally inadequate to deal with the Jacobite threat when it suddenly re-emerged.
Scotland, including the Highlands, was connected to international markets for goods and ideas, and was at the forefront of the burgeoning Enlightenment. It was perhaps a more colourful, cultured and forward-thinking place than the impression of muted anachronism that sometimes comes across on screen.
What sites are particularly associated with the Jacobites?
Unsurprisingly, for a movement which lasted so long and involved so many people, there are sites all across Scotland with Jacobite associations. They range from great houses and castles like Blair Castle and Traquair House, to redcoat fortresses like Ruthven Barracks or Stirling Castle, and of course historic battlefields like Prestonpans and Culloden.
There are also museums and galleries which show display Jacobite artefacts and portraits, the most tangible connections we have to the people of the past. From the Scottish National Portrait Gallery and the Palace of Holyroodhouse, to the West Highland Museum and independent clan museums, the distribution is truly nationwide.
Many of these sites have recently been listed on a new database: www.jacobitescotland.org
How to find out more about the Jacobites
The best way to find out more is to get out and explore using the locations mentioned above. The Jacobite story continues to inspire and interest audiences, and ongoing research is still bringing fresh perspectives and deeper understanding. There are countless books about the subject - including my own recent work The Battles of Bonnie Prince Charlie - and there are regular talks and presentations happening around the country, both online and in person, often arranged by museums.
From Friday 16th to Sunday 25th August, there's a range of events taking place across multiple locations for the Jacobite Festival.
Looking for more days out inspiration?
Check out our guides to Scotland's Great Trails: history and best walks, Britain's best battlefields, British hillforts guide: history and best places to visit, Britain’s Dark Ages: when they were, historical facts and best sites to visit and Britain’s castles: history and best to visit.
VisitScotland is Scotland’s national tourist board. We provide advice, information and inspiration to visitors who are planning a trip to Scotland.
