the Jacobite army comprised of supporters loyal to
Prince Charles Edward Stuart (Bonnie Prince Charlie),
met in battle with the English army led by the Duke of Cumberland
to reclaim the throne of Britain from the English monarch, King George II
Jacobites (the name taken from the Latin for King James-Jacobus Rex)
were supporters of James VII, the last Stuart King, who was deposed in 1689
his son James Francis Edward Stuart, (The Old Pretender), and his grandson
Charles Edward Stuart, (The Young Pretender, - Bonnie Prince Charlie)
were supporters of James VII, the last Stuart King, who was deposed in 1689
his son James Francis Edward Stuart, (The Old Pretender), and his grandson
Charles Edward Stuart, (The Young Pretender, - Bonnie Prince Charlie)
On one side was the army of Prince Charles Edward Stuart seeking to restore
the House of Stuart to the throne of Great Britain.
The Jacobite army included the Atholl Highlanders Brigade
(positioned at 11 on the map)
comprised of members of Clan Donnachaidh including Clan Robertson
(positioned at 11 on the map)
comprised of members of Clan Donnachaidh including Clan Robertson
On the other side - the forces of
King George II led by the Duke of Cumberland.
The Battle of Culloden, in which Clan Robertson
and other members of Clan Donnachaid, fought for Scotland and
Bonnie Prince Charlie under the banner of the Atholl Highlanders Brigade,
is also known as "The Battle of Drummossie Moor".
A year before the definitive battle at Culloden, Prince Charles Edward Stuart gathered his force at Glenfinnan where he raised his father's standard. Prince Charles Jacobite force almost exclusively made up of Highlanders, was large enough to enable him to march south to take Edinburgh. After taking Edinburgh, which it did without encountering much resistance the Jacobite army went on to defeat a government army and win its first significant battle at Prestonpans on 21st September 1745.
The Highlanders had only wanted to take Scotland, but Prince Charles intent on taking the English, sought to push on southwards.
Prince Charles had told his army that the English Jacobites would meet up with the Highlanders further south, when in fact the English Jacobites had decided not to join the uprising.
Prince Charles had told his army that the English Jacobites would meet up with the Highlanders further south, when in fact the English Jacobites had decided not to join the uprising.
The Jacobite army marched south and after taking Carlisle, marched through Lancaster and Manchester, reaching Derby on the 4th of December 1745.
After having discovered Prince Charles Stuart had been deceiving them, the Jacobite force, with three armies lining up to fight them commenced the long retreat home.
After having discovered Prince Charles Stuart had been deceiving them, the Jacobite force, with three armies lining up to fight them commenced the long retreat home.
The Jacobites, accompanied by Prince Charles Edward Stuart, slowly made their way through the hills back home to the Highlands from whence they came.
They had barely made camp in Inverness when news arrived that Cumberland had made camp in Nairn, about 15 miles away.
The retreating Highlanders were eventually cornered at Culloden, a tract of moorland forming a part of the northeast of Drummossie Moor, 10km (6 miles) east of Inverness.
The retreating Highlanders were eventually cornered at Culloden, a tract of moorland forming a part of the northeast of Drummossie Moor, 10km (6 miles) east of Inverness.
On 15th April 1746, the night prior to the Battle of Culloden,
Prince Charles ordered his army to make a surprise night attack on King George's forces in Auldern led by the Duke of Cumberland.
The attack was a failure and left the Jacobite soldiers exhausted for the battle that was to take place at Culloden the following day.
The battle between the 9000 strong Government army led by the Duke of Cumberland and 5000 strong Jacobite army of Prince Charles Edward Stuart was staged on open moorland which strongly favoured the government force.
The battle between the 9000 strong Government army led by the Duke of Cumberland and 5000 strong Jacobite army of Prince Charles Edward Stuart was staged on open moorland which strongly favoured the government force.
This allowed the Duke of Cumberland whose forces were far greater in numbers to use his artillery and cavalry against the Jacobite forces who were disadvantaged by the muddy terrain on the battlefield, which hampered their favoured tactic,.....the front on charge
"The Ghosts Of Cullodden"
(Click centre to commence
then bottom right to view in Full Screen)
After Culloden, Cumberland's army marched on to carry on
It can be quoted from English Parliament records that in reply to Cumberland's reports, a message was sent saying:
The Jacobite army was decimated by Cumberland's forces
with many falling before the order to charge was given,
resulting in a decisive victory for the government force.
The injured Jacobites were dealt with without mercy
and slaughtered on the field where they lay,
ending hopes of restoring the
Jacobite Stuarts to the British throne.
(Click centre to commence
then bottom right to view in Full Screen)
After Culloden, Cumberland's army marched on to carry on
the fight, raiding homes looking for Jacobites who were
swiftly put to the end of either a musket bayonet,
hangman's noose or burnt alive in their homes.
It can be quoted from English Parliament records that in reply to Cumberland's reports, a message was sent saying:
"It will be no great mischief if all should fall". Women, children, old and young, the orders were- No quarter given - and none was.
The Highlands were disarmed and even Highland dress was prohibited for a time. Their culture was demolished, their native language - Gaelic - was banned. \
The Highlands were disarmed and even Highland dress was prohibited for a time. Their culture was demolished, their native language - Gaelic - was banned. \
The wearing of tartan was also made a hanging offence and even the Bible was not allowed to be learnt in their own language never mind written and marked as a hanging offence if spoken.
This approach, coupled with the broken spirit of the people, was so successful in Scotland that by the end of the 18th century three-fifths of Hebridean landlords were already absentees preferring the soft life in London society to looking after their own people in the wild and barren Highland glens and rain swept islands.
Prince Charles escaped from the battlefield at Culloden, losing almost all his personal possessions. During the months that followed he was hunted by government forces throughout the Western Highlands.
Prince Charles escaped from the battlefield at Culloden, losing almost all his personal possessions. During the months that followed he was hunted by government forces throughout the Western Highlands.
He was helped by many loyal followers and this period gave rise to some of the most enduring myths of the rising. He was sheltered, smuggled from hiding place to hiding place and given clothes and other items by Gaels who risked their own safety to help him.
Flora was arrested for her part in Prince Charles Stuart's
FLORA MCDONALD
PRESERVER OF
PRINCE EDWARD CHARLES STUART
HER NAME
WILL BE MENTIONED IN HISTORY
AND IF COURAGE AND FIDELITY
BE VIRTUES
MENTIONED WITH HONOUR
Prince Charles, disguised as Flora's maid and going under the name Betty Burke, travelled by boat to Skye from where he returned to France aboard the French frigate L'Heureux, arriving there in September 1746.
He came close to capture a number of times and probably would
not have escaped without the help of Flora MacDonald
who was born in South Uist on the Isle of Skye and
attended school in Sleat and then Edinburgh.
not have escaped without the help of Flora MacDonald
who was born in South Uist on the Isle of Skye and
attended school in Sleat and then Edinburgh.
Flora was arrested for her part in Prince Charles Stuart's
escape and imprisoned at Dunstaffnage Castle, Oban,
and The Tower of London from where she
was released in 1747 after a brief imprisonment.
Flora Macdonald emigrated to North Carolina in the 1770's
and remained there for several years
before returning to Scotland, where she lived
until her death on March 3rd, 1790.
Flora Macdonald was buried in the graveyard at
Kilmuir on the Isle of Skye with a sheet in which
Bonny Prince Charlie had slept as her shroud.
Bonny Prince Charlie had slept as her shroud.
FLORA MCDONALD
PRESERVER OF
PRINCE EDWARD CHARLES STUART
HER NAME
WILL BE MENTIONED IN HISTORY
AND IF COURAGE AND FIDELITY
BE VIRTUES
MENTIONED WITH HONOUR
Many of Prince Charle's followers were captured and some executed. Others were forced into exile and had their lands forfeited. With the cause of the Stuarts now lost, the remainder of Prince Charles Edward Stuart's life was, with a brief exception spent in exile.
THE BATTLE OF CULLODEN - 16th April 1746
THE BATTLE OF CULLODEN - 16th April 1746
was a defining battle for the English throne
and one that put paid to the Jacobite uprising.
Fought between Government forces of King George II
and the Jacobite army of Prince Charles Edward Stuart
it was the last battle of the "Forty-five Rebellion"
and the last battle ever to be fought on British soil.
The Clan Stone Walkway at Culloden
Designed to commemorate the Scottish clans
including Clan Robertson and their
clansmen who fought at the battle.
including Clan Robertson and their
clansmen who fought at the battle.
The National Trust for Scotland is now the custodian
of this internationally significant site, one of the
most significant battlefield sites in history.