Prince Charles, born 1720 in Rome, was grandson of Catholic King James II and VII who died in exile. Charles’ father, James Francis Edward Stuart, known as the Old Pretender, had failed in his attempts to regain the thrones of England and Scotland from his Protestant sister Mary and her husband William of Orange.
Jacobites Fight to Regain Throne
Many Jacobites (Latin reference for James) continued to hope for a successful campaign that would remove the Protestant Hanoverians. In 1745 Prince Charles, wanting to raise a rebellion in Scotland, secured money for munitions and ships. One of the three ships was attacked by the English and returned to France.
When he arrived in Scotland, Prince Charles learned that some Jacobites who believed that his campaign against King George of the House of Hanover would be dangerous and futile, refused to provide support. There were, however, many recruits from the Highland clans who joined him.
At Perth in September, Lord George Murray, an experienced military man, was appointed Commander of Prince Charles’ army. The Jacobite army reached the outskirts of Edinburgh on the 16th September and delivered an ultimatum to the city’s representatives. When time to discuss the ultimatum was requested, Charles suspected that it was a delaying tactic. Led by Murray, 900 troops rushed through the city gates, unopposed. Charles, wearing the Stuart tartan, rode into the city to receive great cheers from the citizens.
Prince Charles at Holyrood House, Edinburgh
With the help of a local man who knew the terrain, Prince Charles and his army took a government force by surprise during an early morning charge when the mist was heavy. Their opponents’ retreat led Charles to believe in the invincibility of his army. While holding court at Edinburgh in the Stuart ancestral Palace, Holyrood House, Charles wrote letters to his father in Rome that told of his triumphs.
After a six weeks’ stay in Edinburgh, Charles decided to advance to England. Despite terrible weather conditions they reached Preston and Manchester where they gathered some recruits. When the Jacobites reached Derby, a few days march from London, they learned that government reinforcements had arrived at Edinburgh. Murray, Commander of the Jacobite army, urged Charles to return to Scotland. Charles wished to continue the march to London, but was outvoted.
Prince Charles Lost Battle of Culloden
In late December, when the troops arrived back in Glasgow, Prince Charles ignored Murray’s request that they rest during the winter months. Instead, their energies were wasted in a futile attempt to take Stirling Castle. Taking command away from Murray, Prince Charles decided to lead his exhausted and hungry troops into battle against the much stronger army of Cumberland on the Moor of Culloden in April 1746.
Jacobite casualties were estimated at more than 1,000 after a brief, horrible battle. Prince Charles was led from the field to a place of safety. The reprisals against the surviving Jacobites were instantaneous and horrific. Prince Charles, distraught at the knowledge that his Highlanders were not invincible, released them from duty. Murray expressed his disgust and blamed the slaughter on Charles who had refused to take advice.
With a price of 30,000 pounds on his head, Prince Charles, the Young Pretender, went into hiding while attempting to find people to help him return to France. Flora MacDonald, Highland heroine, entered his life at that time.
Source: History of the Rebellion in Scotland, 1745, 1746
In Constable’s Miscellany of Original and Selected Publications Vol. XVI
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