Here are examples of documents about the Jacobites from all across the Highlands. Clicking on the images will allow you to see them in more detail. The images supplied are for educational purposes so please don’t use them for other reasons or share them online – thank you!
Jacobites in 1715
These documents all relate to the 1715 Jacobite Uprising – the second major ‘rebellion’. It was prompted when Queen Anne died and the throne, instead of passing to her Catholic half-brother, James, went to a distant Protestant cousin, who became King George I. Many people believe that the 1715 was the rising that had the most chance of succeeding because lots of people across Britain (and further) supported it, but various things went wrong and there was poor military leadership. The Jacobites lost and, apart from a small attempt at a rising in 1719, there was an uneasy peace for the next thirty years.
You can read about the 1715 Jacobite Rising in our storyboard.
During the 1715 Rebellion, Inverness Castle was seized by Jacobite supporters. This angered prominent Government supporting landowners in the area, such as Forbes of Culloden, Fraser of Lovat and Rose of Kilravock, and they planned a siege of the Castle. Arthur Rose, pictured below, snuck into the Tolbooth to surprise the rebels, but was shot and later died. He was the only fatality of the Siege of Inverness. Arthur’s brother, Huge Rose of Kilravock, was so enraged at the death of his brother that the Jacobite rebels fled. An account of the Siege and of Arthur Rose’s death can be found in the letter below.
Arthur Rose of Kilravock
You can read a transcript of this document here.
During the 1715 siege of Inverness, some people had their possessions or homes damaged. After the siege was over, they claimed money from the town of Inverness for their losses. Some of these claims and a transcript of them are below.
You can read a transcript of the claims here.
There was another period of Jacobite Rebellion in 1719. The King of Spain had offered assistance to James, so a small force of 300 Spaniards landed on the west coast of Scotland. The plan was to meet with the Highland forces and distract the Hanoverian government from the main invasion, which was planned for southern England. The force landed at Eilean Donan Castle in Kintail. When they landed, they were discovered by three Government warships and the castle was blown up. The mixed Highland and Spanish forces were forced inland and met Major Wightman’s Government troops in the pass at Glenshiel on the 10th June 1719. The Jacobites were scattered.
The pictures show Eilean Donan Castle. It was rebuilt and habitable again by 1932.
Jacobites in 1745
The documents below are connected to the 1745-6 Jacobite Uprising. It is the most famous of the risings because of its brutal end. Bonnie Prince Charlie (son of James and grandson of King James VII) came to Britain to try and claim the throne back. He announced this intention by raising his royal standard (his flag) at Glenfinnan in August 1745 (a letter regarding this can be seen below – it is from the wonderful archive collections of West Highland Museum which are held at Lochaber Archive Centre). Bonnie Prince Charlie’s attempt to claim the throne was unsuccessful and ended in the Battle of Culloden – the last battle fought on British soil. After the Battle he fled west through Lochaber and Skye. His supporters were killed or severely punished, the clan system was broken down and a law was passed which made it illegal to wear Highland Dress.
A letter from Bonnie Prince Charlie about raising the standard
Jacobite Cypher
Plan of the Battle of Culloden
Bonnie Prince Charlie stopped at Monkstadt House, Kilmuir, Skye during his escape after the Battle of Culloden
Court document showing punishment for wearing Highland dress
You can read a transcript of the raising of the standard here.
There is a transcript of the Jacobite Cypher here.
Read a transcript of the court document here.
