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• Bonnie Prince Charlie Teaching Ideas (PDF)

Bonnie Prince Charlie was the oldest son of James Stewart, known as the Old Pretender, and the grandson of James II and VII, the last Stewart King of England and Scotland. He was born on the 31st of December, 1720 and as a youth he gained a reputation for bravery and was a skilful swordsman. At the tender age of 25, he embarked on an extraordinary adventure that nearly saw him capture the throne of Great Britain.

On the 9th of July, 1745, Captain Brett of the HMS Lion spotted two French Warships, the Elizabeth and the Du Teillay. With Britain and France at war, he quickly engaged the two ships in combat, badly damaging the larger Elizabeth and forcing it to return to port. His ship was damaged in the exchange and he was unable to prevent the Du Teillay from continuing on its journey. Onboard was the Young Pretender, Bonnie Prince Charlie. He had lost the troops he was taking with him but he was still determined to start an uprising in support of his father, James Stewart, the exiled king of Great Britain.

Bonnie Prince Charlie arrived on the Island of Eriskay on the 23rd of July with only a handful of followers and a small supply of weapons.

The Prince then sailed across from Eriskay to South Uist, where he was met by Alexander MacDonald. MacDonald told him to go home, as he would find no support for an uprising. The Prince famously responded with the words "I am come home" He then moved onto the mainland, landing at Loch nan Uahm to meet representatives of the Clans. They were reluctant to embark on any uprising, especially without the promised French support, but the Prince was adamant. He persuaded Cameron of Locheil to join his cause and the other chiefs fell into line.

This bridge was built by General Wade after the 1715 Jacobite Rebellion and it was here that the first shots were fired in the 1745 Rebellion on the 16th of August. Two companies of redcoats were waylaid by a small number of Highlanders, who frightened the redcoats off with a combination of gunfire, bagpipes and shouting.

After persuading Cameron of Locheil and his followers to support him, Bonnie Prince Charlie raised his standard at Glenfinnan on the 19th of August, 1745 and gathered the clans for his uprising. This is the monument in Glenfinnan that commemorates that event. You can see Loch Shiel in the background. The railway that runs along the shore of Loch Shiel has since found fame in the Harry Potter movies.

This photograph shows the flag of the Jacobites. The white flower was said to represent the white rose that Bonnie Prince Charlie was alleged to have picked on his march from Glenfinnan after raising his standard. This flag now flies on the Field of Culloden to mark the place where the Jacobite lines were formed.