The Battle of Culloden: The History and Legacy of the Jacobite Revolts’ Most Famous Battle

The Jacobites conjure up many images to 21st century Britons, including romantic heroism, the Outlander series, and Bonnie Prince Charlie as the doomed hero of the cause, but Jacobitism was a cause that had far reaching consequences across 18th century Europe. The Jacobites were not only supporters of the exiled Stuart monarchy, but also against the political and religious settlements agreed to across the British Isles. As Jacobite historians such as Daniel Szechi and Frank McLynn have noted, the specter of the Jacobite threat was present for the British government and monarchy in their dealings with European powers throughout the 18th century. This was especially true in France, the country that supported the exiled Stuarts and gave them a home until 1714. This soured the French monarchy’s relationship with Britain, and the Hanoverian kings who replaced the Stuarts were always aware of it.

Of all the fighting conducted by the Jacobites, the Battle of Culloden, fought on April 16, 1746, was probably the most famous battle of them all, and it was a complete disaster for the Jacobite army. The government army outnumbered and outgunned the Jacobites, and when snow fell that morning, it left the battlefield wet and boggy. The exposed field also meant there would be nowhere for the Jacobites to avoid the enemy’s gunfire. The battle began around 1:00 p.m. with British artillery fire that the Jacobites struggled to respond against, and the famous Highland charge employed by the Scottish clans was hopeless in a boggy field. Their opposition had learned from previous encounters by attacking their opponent on the right instead of straight ahead, which bypassed the Highlanders’ shield. The battle lasted about an hour, and in that time the Jacobites lost about 2,000 men, a resounding defeat that marked the end of the Jacobites’ struggle to restore a Stuart to the throne.