The Jacobites were political movements that sought to restore the Catholic Stuart monarchs to the thrones of England, Scotland, and Ireland. The term "Jacobite" derives from the Latin form of James, which was the name of the Stuart kings.
The Stuart dynasty was founded by James VI of Scotland, who became James I of England and Ireland in 1603 after the death of Queen Elizabeth I. The Stuart monarchs faced significant challenges in maintaining their rule due to religious and political divisions, especially between Protestants and Catholics. The most significant event that fueled the Jacobite movements was the Glorious Revolution of 1688.
In 1688, James II, a Catholic, was deposed in the Glorious Revolution, and his Protestant daughter Mary II and her husband William III of Orange were invited to take the throne. James II went into exile in France, and his supporters, known as Jacobites, continued to rally behind him and his descendants. The Jacobite cause sought to overturn the Protestant succession and restore the Stuart monarchy, believing in the divine right of kings.
The Jacobite uprisings took place at various points during the 18th century. The most notable of these were the "Fifteen" rebellion in 1715 and the "Forty-Five" rebellion in 1745. The 1715 rebellion, led by James Francis Edward Stuart (known as the Old Pretender), was unsuccessful and ultimately crushed by the British government forces.
The "Forty-Five" rebellion, led by James's son Charles Edward Stuart (known as Bonnie Prince Charlie or the Young Pretender), gained significant momentum and briefly achieved military successes. In September 1745, Bonnie Prince Charlie's forces managed to capture Edinburgh and advance deep into England. However, they faced defeat at the Battle of Culloden in April 1746, marking the end of the rebellion. The aftermath of the Culloden defeat was brutal, with the British government suppressing the Highland culture and punishing many Jacobite supporters.
After the failed uprising, the Jacobite cause lost much of its momentum. Although occasional plots and risings continued for several decades, the Jacobites were never able to restore the Stuart monarchy. The movement finally declined during the late 18th century as the Hanoverian dynasty, descended from George I, consolidated its rule.
Despite the failures, the Jacobite movement became a powerful cultural and literary symbol, inspiring numerous songs, poems, and stories in Scotland and Ireland. It remains a significant part of British history and has continued to capture the imaginations of writers and artists over the centuries.