THE WHITE ROSE (Part Two)
The last hope of the Stewarts was born on New Year's Eve on a cold December night in Rome in 1720. The birth of the baby Prince who was to be known as 'Bonnie Prince Charlie' so 'long o coming' was greeted with great celebration and rejoicing. He was called 'spes Britanniae' - Britannia's hope.
This Prince was raised to take over a kingdom from birth, indulging in the royal pursuits of shooting and fishing. At the young age of 13 he joined his cousin the Duke of Berwick who was commanding Spanish forces at the siege of Gaetn, midway between Rome and Naples. Here he impressed the Duke greatly with his bravery.
Feeling betrayed by the Act of Union of 1707, which joined Scotland with England, many Scots were anxious to restore a Stewart to the throne. There was, however, a deep division in Scotland between the Lowlanders and the Highlanders. The Lowlanders had become prosperous because of their great industries of shipbuilding, and the manufacture of linen. Mainly Presbyterian, they generally supported the Whigs. In the former failed rebellion many had lost estates. They did not want to take that risk again, which is understandable.
Most of the Highlanders, by contrast, were Tory and Roman Catholic and they supported the Prince. There were a few exceptions, the most famous being the great Campbell clan who firmly supported the Government. The infamous feud between the Campbells and the great MacDonalds actually dates from the Battle of Culloden, where they fought on opposite sides.
The rebellion of the 'forty-five', the most legendary of them all, was the final attempt to restore a Stewart to the throne. The courageous and charming young Prince actually came within sight of recapturing his rightful kingdom. Charles took advantage of the defeat of the British by French at the Battle of Fontenay in May 1745. His clandestine journey to Scotland on the French boat of Du Teillay was the beginning of the rising. Arriving with only seven supporters, the 'Seven Men of Moidart' the young Prince had to employ all of his charm and persuasion to persuade the Scots to join him. He began with an army of 1200 men, including many Highlanders. (My clan MacDonnell of Glengarry, I'm pleased to say, fought for the Prince.)
His motley army was ill-equipped, half-naked, and apparently used to women doing most of their work. Hard work was not these guys' scene!
As England had stupidly left Scotland very poorly defended, he was able to capture Perth, and Scotland's beautiful capital city,
Latest Articles