As grandson of the deposed
James II, Prince Charles Edward Stuart believed that he was rightful heir to the thrones of
England and
Scotland.
In 1745 he landed with a handful of men on the west coast of Scotland, determined to wrest the throne from King
George II. Almost at once many of the
Highland clans rallied to his cause. He unfurled his standard at Glenfinnan, where a fine
memorial now stands. Charles won much of his support by his
audacity and his
charm. It was this which earned him his name Bonnie Prince Charlie.
Marching south with an
army of Highlanders, Charles captured
Edinburgh and held court in the ancient palace of Holyrood. He then went on to smash an army
loyal to George and to march into England. By December Charles had led his clansmen as far as Derby. Here Charles was forced to turn back. At Culloden Moor on 16 April, 1746, Charles' force was caught by a larger army and practically
annihilated.
Bonnie Prince Charlie went on the run and finally fled to
France. He took to drinking heavily and died a
lonely man in
Rome in 1788.