The Jacobite Era and the End of the Stuarts

                               The Jacobite Era

The Jacobite Era and the End of the Stuarts. This period is marked by the overthrow and defeat of King James VII in 1689. Then running to the final defeat of the Stuart forces in 1746. It is known in Scottish history as the Jacobite era. This is derived  from the Latin form of the name James,’ Jacobus’. Though King James’s forces under John Graham, Viscount Dundee won an impressive victory at the Battle of Killiecrankie in 1689, Dundee’s death in the battle deprived the Jacobites of effective leadership and meant their cause was eventually lost.

                                              The 1715

Opposition was further muted by the fact that both James VII’s daughters. Mary and Anne inherited the throne in turn. This meant that it was not until 1715 after the death of Queen Anne, that the Jacobites felt able to attempt the restoration of James VII’s son James Francis Edward Stuart . But again they failed in their aim due largely to the ineffective leadership of the Earl of Mar and the lack of French backing after the end of the War of the Spanish Succession. An indecisive battle was fought in 1715 at Sheriffmuir near Stirling. This was almost was won by the Jacobites before their eventual defeat. After this failure the Jacobite forces faded away and finally disbanded in 1716, after the departure of the newly arrived James Francis Stuart. Who had been proclaimed as King James VIII in Perth a few months before.

                                                     The 1745

It was only after another thirty years that a further serious attempt was made to restore the Stuart monarchy in the shape of James’s son, Charles Edward Stuart. However this attempt again failed. Being finally defeated by the Hanoverians at the Battle of Culloden in April 1746.  Charles Edward Stuart evaded capture by the Hanoverian forces and eventually made his escape to the continent. This ended any realistic hopes that remained of restoring the Stuart dynasty to the throne. The last of the direct male line of the Stuarts died in 1807 without heir.