In the aftermath of the ’45 uprising the government decided to end the Jacobite military threat once and for all. They enacted new laws aimed at changing the traditional clan structure and destroying Highland culture. The Old Pretender was certainly not alone in his discontent: many Scottish Highlanders, English Catholics and noble families devoted to the Stuart cause were unhappy to see a foreigner ruling over Great Britain. Unfortunately for many of James I’s Scottish supporters, the king turned his attentions away from his homeland once he reached London. In his eyes, the time was ripe for rebellion. Formerly the king of Scotland, the Stuart monarch traveled south to London to rule over the newly-united Kingdoms of England, Scotland and Ireland after the death of the childless Queen Elizabeth—known as the “Virgin Queen” for her life-long chastity. Though the Scottish have long exhibited a strong sense of national pride, the referendum on national independence in 2014 and the release of Starz’s television dramaThe origins of the Rebellion date back to 1603, with the ascension of James I to the English throne. Yet the British pursuit continued. Those who supported his claim became known as Jacobites—from After William’s death in 1702, Mary’s sister, Anne, took the crown.
James II, however, was a converted Catholic, and the English Parliament would not allow a “popish” monarch to rule over Protestant England. While a Jacobite success, Falkirk is often described as a 'hollow' victory, since poor command and co-ordination deprived them of the last opportunity to decisively defeat their opponents. The Jacobite army reached Glasgow on Christmas Day.
With ample men and resources, the Duke pursued the Jacobite invaders. After a failed 1696 Jacobite assassination attempt on William and more unsuccessful uprisings in 1715 and 1719, the Jacobite cause seemed lost. For the bodyguard of Henry III and Henry IV of France, see Summarised in a British intelligence report of 1755; "...'tis not in the interest of France that the House of Stuart should ever be restored, as it would only unite the three Kingdoms against Them; England would have no exterior [threat] to mind, and [...] prevent any of its Descendants (the Stuarts) attempting anything against the Libertys or Religion of the People.Scots made up less than five percent of the Jacobite court in 1696 and 1709: by far the largest element were English, followed by Irish and French.Elcho reported that besides himself, the Council included In his Diary, Lord Elcho later wrote that "...the majority of the Council was not in favour of a march to England and urged that they should remain in Scotland to watch events and defend their own land. With all of Great Britain’s concerns overseas, the Bonnie Prince reasoned, they would never expect an uprising at home.Charles cultivated long-distance relations in the Scottish highlands (with the real-life versions The Hanoverians, however, would not go down without a fight. Most of the Scots wanted to consolidate, suggesting Charles summon the estates of the realm to defend it against the "English armies" they expected to be sent against them.Despite their doubts, the Council agreed to the invasion, on condition the promised English and French support was forthcoming.Murray divided the army into two columns to conceal their destination from Leaving a small garrison, the Jacobites continued south to At Council meetings in Preston and Manchester, many Scots felt they had gone far enough and agreed to continue onto Derby only when Charles claimed Sir Watkin Williams Wynn would meet them there and that the Duke of Beaufort was preparing to seize the strategic port of The Council convened on 5 December to discuss their next steps.Murray argued they had gone as far as possible and now risked being cut off by superior forces, with Cumberland advancing north from London and Wade moving south from Newcastle. Morale was high, while reinforcements from Aberdeenshire and Banffshire under Hawley's forces were largely intact and advanced on Stirling again once Cumberland arrived in Edinburgh on 30 January, while many Highlanders had gone home after Falkirk; on 1 February, the siege was abandoned and the Jacobite main force retreated to Inverness.Fighting began with an artillery exchange: that of the government was vastly superior in training and coordination, particularly as James Grant, the Jacobite artillery colonel, was absent having been wounded at This increased the distance to the government lines and slowed the momentum of the charge, lengthening their exposure to the government artillery, which now switched to Troops that held together, like the French regulars, were far less vulnerable in retreat and many Highlanders were cut down by government Lord Elcho later claimed to have told Charles he should "put himself at the head of the [...] men that remained to him, and live and die with them," but he was determined to leave for France.After Culloden, government forces spent several weeks searching for rebels, confiscating cattle and burning Regular soldiers in French service were treated as prisoners of war and later exchanged, regardless of nationality, but 3,500 captured Jacobites were indicted for treason.