The Jacobites’ Legacy: From Bonnie Prince Charlie to Outlander

The Glorious Revolution of 1688 that replaced the Catholic King James II of England with his Protestant daughter and son-in-law, William and Mary, left many refusing to accept the loss of the Stuarts’ claim to the English throne. The Jacobites—supporters of James whose name derived from the Latin Jacobus—schemed to reverse the revolution, culminating in Bonnie Prince Charlie’s failed invasion of Britain in 1745, the last major effort to restore the Stuart dynasty. The defeat of the Jacobites at the bloody Battle of Culloden dramatically altered the way of life in the Scottish Highlands, which were somewhat unfairly branded as uniformly disloyal to the crown.

Historian Jennifer Paxton examines how a dispute between rival branches of the English royal dynasty dominated English and European politics for nearly a century and has inspired popular culture on both sides of the Atlantic, from the novels of Sir Walter Scott in the 19th century to the current Outlander novels and television series. She traces how the Jacobites used material culture, such as portraits, commemorative medallions, and special glassware, to promote Jacobite identity.

Paxton also tells the surprising story of a resurgence of interest in Highland culture in the 19th century, which led the British royal family to make their peace with the Jacobite legacy and embrace the romantic mythology associated with their rebellious cousins.

Paxton is a clinical associate professor of history and director of the University Honors Program at The Catholic University of America.

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