The first rebellion involved James Francis Stuart (the old pretender) who was next in line to the throne of Great Britain. The new Parliament forced James from the throne and gave it to his protestant niece, Mary and her husband, William. There were three main Jacobite Rebellions. The Start of the Rising

People started to dislike the new leaders of the country. A group of Jacobites fought William’s army at the Battle of Killiecrankie. The Jacobites won the battle as they were more experienced and had the high ground. Although they won the battle their leader was killed which ended the first Jacobite rebellion.

The Jacobite Rising 1745 Charles Edward Stuart was the son of James Francis Stuart. He was named Bonnie Prince Charlie as he was, apparently, very handsome. There was another reason for the rising, the Treaty of Union.

Bonnie Prince Charlie grew up in Italy. He was only 24 years old when the rising started. In 1745 Bonnie Prince Charlie returned to Glenfinnan, raising the Jacobite flag. Outside of Edinburgh a month later he won the battle of Prestonpans, against the government army.

Next the Jacobites conquered the majority of England. The French were allies of the Jacobites and sent soldiers to help them win the battle. The Jacobites fled to base in Inverness as an army led by the Duke of Cumberland was following them. At the battle of Culloden the Jacobites were beaten by the Duke’s army.

After the battle Bonnie Prince Charlie escaped to an Island off the coast of Scotland. He eventually met a Family who agreed to hide him from the Duke’s army. They helped him escape to France, where he eventually returned to Italy. Bonnie Prince Charlie died at the age of 68.