Jacobite risings

The Jacobite Risings

The Jacobite Risings were a serious of attempts to reestate Stuart monarchy to the throne. They started after 1689 and after a lot of conspiration and minor rebellions, there were two main Risings in 1715 and 1745.

Rising of 1715

After the death of William III in 1702 the crown was given to Anne, who was followed by George I in 1714. This drove many Tories despair and some of them started a rebellion. As an opening event of the Rising, John Eskine, Earl of Mar, raised the standart of King James at Braemar on 6 September 1715. This happened in front of about 600 men. Only a few days later they spread the news that the Earl of Mar was successfull in the Highlands and this caused Tories and Jacobites in Perth to action. On 12 September 1715 the important centre of trade was captured. Suprised by the Rising, the government had only 4000 men who were led by the Duke of Argyle. The deciding battle was the battle of Sheriffmuir on 13 November. The Duke of Argyle could not be beaten and the Earl of Mar retired to Perth. This caused the Old Pretender to come to Peterhead in order to motivate his army again. By now the government hat used the time to built up their army. Supported by Dutch troops they had an overwhelming force and made the Old Pretender and the Earl of Mar taking ship to France again. So the Rising was over by Aptil 1716.

Rising of 1745

The Rising of 1745 was led by Charles Edward Stuart. He invaded Endland by the western routes but failed to gain English suppoters. Still his march could not be stopped by Cumberland nor by Wade. After the Jacobites were posted on Culloden Moor (near Inverness), their army was destroyed in April 1746 by the outnumbered army of CUmberland. After the battle, numbers of Jacobites were slaughtered or shot. This caused Cumberlands nickname "Butcher". After hiding from the troops Bonnie Prince Charlie got away to France. As a result of this defeat, clan standarts were burned and the wearing of a highland dress and tartan setts was forbidden. The rebel chiefs lost their land and government prohibited their private armies and therefore destroyed all danger of another rising.

Sources

Arnold-Baker, Charles. The Companion to British History. Tunbridge Wells: Longross, 1996.

Baynes, John. The Jacobite Rising of 1715. Cassell&Company: London, 1970.

Cannon, John Ashton (ed.). The Oxford Companion to British History. Oxford: University Press, 1997.