History of the Jacobite Risings and the wider Jacobite period from the Revolution of 1688 to the battle of Culloden in 1746 and beyond
Jacobite Risings
News
New archaeological dig begins at Culloden
Archaeologists from the National Trust for Scotland (NTS) and the University of Glasgow are carrying out a new investigation on the battlefield of Culloden and are being supported by archaeology students and volunteers from...
News
3 SCOTS help maintain and protect Culloden Battlefield
The National Trust for Scotland (NTS) has been working with the 3rd Battalion, The Royal Regiment of Scotland (3 SCOTS) as part of the army’s Global Charge initiative to promote the well-being of its...
Articles
Battle of Dunkeld during the Jacobite Rising of 1689
At the battle of Dunkeld on 21 August 1689, the Jacobites under the command of Brigadier-General Alexander Cannon attacked a Scottish government force of Cameronians, commanded by Lieutenant-Colonel William Cleland, in and around the town...
Scottish History Blog
The raising of the Jacobite standard at Glenfinnan
On 19 August 1745, the Jacobite standard was raised at Glenfinnan at the head of Loch Shiel in Lochaber, marking the beginning of the Jacobite Rising of 1745.
Charles Edward Stuart landed on the Isle of...
Articles
Battle of Killiecrankie and the Jacobite Rising of 1689
At the battle of Killiecrankie on 27 July 1689, Scottish government forces under the command of Major-General Hugh Mackay of Scourie were defeated by a Jacobite army loyal to the deposed King James commanded...
Articles
The Royal Navy’s capture of Eilean Donan Castle
During the Jacobite Rising of 1719, Royal Navy warships attacked and captured the Spanish-held Eilean Donan Castle in Kintail. The castle was the main Jacobite base and was cannonaded into submission before being seized...
Articles
Battle of Loch nan Uamh during the Jacobite ’45
On 3 May 1746, three Royal Navy warships sailed into Loch nan Uamh in Arisaig and engaged two French privateers that had arrived to deliver weapons and money for the Jacobites.
The French privateers, Le...
Scottish History Blog
The first muster of the Black Watch at Aberfeldy
In May 1740, the 43rd Highland Regiment of Foot (Black Watch) mustered for the first time on the banks of the River Tay at Aberfeldy.
The regiment had been established by Royal Warrant on 25...
News
Archaeologists uncover grapeshot and a clan chief’s shoe buckle at Culloden
Recent investigations by National Trust for Scotland (NTS) archaeologists at Culloden battlefield have uncovered a wide range of artefacts, including what is believed to be Donald Cameron of Lochiel's shoe buckle.
The fierceness of the...
News
Old Military Road in Glen Croe to be improved
Transport Scotland has announced that work to improve the Old Military Road through Glen Croe, which was once part of Major William Caulfeild's Dumbarton to Inveraray military road, would go ahead.
A contract has been...
Articles
Massacre of Glencoe: Last act of the Highland War
In the early hours of 13 February 1692, Scottish government soldiers under the command of Captain Robert Campbell of Glenlyon fell upon their hosts, the Macdonalds of Glencoe. In a cold-blooded breach of highland...
Scottish History Blog
When the Jacobites fined the town of Paisley
On 29 December 1745, a summons was issued by Charles Edward Stuart from Glasgow to the magistrates of Paisley demanding that the town pay a £1,000 fine for raising a militia regiment against the...
Articles
Siege of Inveraray during the Jacobite Rising of 1715
In October 1715, the western Jacobite clans under Major-General Alexander Gordon of Auchintoul marched into Argyllshire with the intention of capturing the town and castle of Inveraray, the capital of Clan Campbell and the...
Scottish History Blog
Butter Bridge in Glen Kinglas
Butter Bridge stands in the shadow of Beinn Ime and crosses the gently flowing Kinglas Water in Glen Kinglas, Argyll. The bridge was built in 1749 as part of Major William Caulfeild's military road...
Scottish History Blog
Tummel Bridge
Tummel Bridge is situated at the western end of Loch Tummel in Perthshire and was built in 1730 to carry Lieutenant-General George Wade’s Crieff to Dalnacardoch military road across the River Tummel.
General Wade in...
Scottish History Blog
Ruthven Barracks
Ruthven Barracks (pronounced 'Riven') is situated on the south side of the River Spey overlooking the small town of Kingussie in Badenoch and was constructed between 1720 and 1724 on the site of an...
Scottish History Blog
The Jacobite burning of Strathearn
From 25-29 January 1716, in the midst of a bitter winter, the Jacobites burned the Strathearn villages of Auchterarder, Blackford, Dalreoch, Crieff, Dunning, and Muthill after driving out the inhabitants in an attempt to...
Articles
Duke of Cumberland’s ‘new’ bayonet drill
No account of the battle of Culloden would be complete without mention of the Duke of Cumberland’s ‘new’ bayonet drill that was supposedly introduced to his infantry battalions while they were in camp in...
Resources
Field Marshal George Wade
George Wade was born in 1673 in Killavalley, Westmeath, Ireland, and is best remembered as the father of the military road-building programme that he oversaw and directed during his tenure as commander-in-chief Scotland (1724-1740).
Wade...
Resources
General Wade’s Report on the Highlands
IN Obedience to Your Majesty’s Commands and Instructions under your Royal Sign Manual bearing date the 3rd day of July 1724, Commanding me to go into the Highlands of Scotland, and narrowly to inspect...
Scottish History Blog
Balfour Stone at Killiecrankie
The Balfour Stone in the Pass of Killiecrankie supposedly marks the grave and the spot where Brigadier Barthold Balfour was killed while trying to rally Scottish government troops fleeing the battle of Killiecrankie on...