Why Was James VII and II Deposed?
James VII and II became king in 1685. He was openly Catholic at a time when religion and the succession to the throne were closely connected to political power.
Opposition to James increased during his reign, particularly over fears surrounding Catholic influence and his attempts to extend religious toleration using royal authority. The birth of his son, James Francis Edward Stuart, in June 1688 was particularly significant because it created the prospect of a continuing Catholic Stuart succession.
Later that year, a group of English political figures invited James's Protestant son-in-law, William of Orange, to intervene. William landed in England in November 1688 and James subsequently fled to France. William and James's daughter Mary became joint monarchs of England in 1689. In Scotland, the Convention of Estates declared that James had forfeited the crown and offered it to William and Mary. James and his descendants, however, continued to claim their right to rule.
Who Were the Jacobites?
The name Jacobite comes from Jacobus, the Latin form of James. Jacobites supported the claims of the deposed James VII and II and, later, those of his descendants. The movement was particularly associated with Scotland, but Jacobitism was not exclusively Scottish. It also had supporters in England and Ireland and depended at various points on political and military support from continental Europe.
Nor were all Jacobites motivated by precisely the same thing. For some, loyalty to the Stuarts was a matter of hereditary right. Religion was important for others, particularly Catholics and some Episcopalians. Political grievances and local or family allegiances could also influence support. What united them was opposition to the post-1688 succession and support for the Stuart claim.
What Did the Jacobites Want?
At its simplest, the Jacobite objective was the restoration of the Stuart monarchy. Initially that meant restoring James VII and II. Following his death in 1701, the claim passed to his son, James Francis Edward Stuart, who became known to supporters as James VIII and III and to his opponents as the Old Pretender.
The struggle over the throne would continue for decades, but the first armed challenge came almost immediately after James's deposition.
The Jacobite Rising of 1689
Scotland did not accept the new political settlement without resistance. In 1689, John Graham of Claverhouse, Viscount Dundee, raised forces in support of the deposed James. Dundee, remembered by Jacobites as 'Bonnie Dundee', gathered support particularly among Highland clans. The campaign led to one of the earliest and best-known battles of the Jacobite Risings.
The Battle of Killiecrankie
On 27 July 1689, Jacobite forces under Dundee met a Government army commanded by Major-General Hugh Mackay at the Battle of Killiecrankie in Perthshire. The Jacobites won a decisive victory. A Highland charge broke Mackay's forces and inflicted heavy losses on the Government army.
But the victory came at considerable cost. Dundee was mortally wounded during the battle. His death deprived the Jacobites of their commander at a crucial moment in the campaign. Without him, the Rising quickly lost momentum.
What Happened After Killiecrankie?
The Jacobite campaign continued after Dundee's death, but its position weakened. At the Battle of Dunkeld on 21 August 1689, Jacobite forces attacked Government troops holding the town but were unable to dislodge them. The Rising subsequently began to falter.
James himself had meanwhile attempted to regain his throne through Ireland. His forces were defeated by William III at the Battle of the Boyne in July 1690, further weakening the prospect of an immediate Stuart restoration. By the early 1690s, organised resistance in Scotland had largely subsided. Jacobitism, however, had not disappeared.
James Francis Edward Stuart and the Jacobite Succession
When James VII and II died in exile in 1701, his claim passed to his son, James Francis Edward Stuart. To Jacobite supporters, he was the rightful James VIII of Scotland and III of England. His opponents called him the Old Pretender, a name intended to reject the legitimacy of his claim.
James had grown up in exile and relied heavily on support from European powers. His prospects often rose and fell according to Britain's relationships with France and other continental states.
An attempted French-backed invasion of Scotland in 1708 came to nothing when the French fleet carrying James was unable to land him. Seven years later, another opportunity emerged.
Why Did the Jacobites Rise Again in 1715?
The political landscape changed significantly following the death of Queen Anne in 1714.
Under the terms of the Protestant succession, the crown passed to George I, Elector of Hanover. For the Jacobites, the accession of a Hanoverian monarch while James Francis Edward Stuart remained in exile provided a renewed focus for opposition. In Scotland, the movement was led by John Erskine, Earl of Mar, who had previously served under Queen Anne but found himself politically marginalised following George I's accession. In September 1715, Mar raised the Jacobite standard at Braemar. The most substantial Jacobite Rising to date had begun.
What Happened in the Jacobite Rising of 1715?
The Rising initially gathered considerable support. Mar assembled a large army and the Jacobites gained control over much of northern Scotland. Supporters elsewhere in Britain also joined the cause, including Jacobites in northern England.
Yet the size of Mar's army did not translate into a decisive military advantage. Government forces in Scotland were commanded by John Campbell, Duke of Argyll, and the two armies eventually met near Dunblane in November.
The Battle of Sheriffmuir
The Battle of Sheriffmuir was fought on 13 November 1715. Mar's Jacobite army considerably outnumbered Argyll's Government force, but the battle produced no clear victor. Both armies experienced success on one part of the battlefield and defeat on another. Strategically, however, the result favoured the Government.
Mar failed to press his numerical advantage and subsequently withdrew to Perth. The Jacobite advance had been checked at a point when the Rising needed momentum. Events elsewhere made the position worse.
The Jacobite Defeat at Preston
While Mar campaigned in Scotland, another Jacobite force had moved south into England. Scottish and English Jacobites eventually reached Preston in Lancashire, where they were surrounded by Government troops.
After fighting on 12 and 13 November, the Jacobites surrendered on 14 November 1715, the day after Sheriffmuir. The defeat effectively ended the English dimension of the Rising and resulted in large numbers of Jacobite prisoners.
James Francis Edward Stuart Arrives in Scotland
James Francis Edward Stuart finally landed in Scotland in December 1715. His arrival might have been expected to rally the Jacobite cause, but it came too late. The campaign was already faltering, Government forces were strengthening their position and the Jacobites had failed to secure the decisive victory they needed.
James established himself briefly at Scone, but there would be no coronation. As Government forces advanced, the Jacobites abandoned Perth and retreated northwards. In February 1716, James and the Earl of Mar sailed from Montrose for France. The Rising was over.
Why Did the 1715 Jacobite Rising Fail?
The Jacobites had demonstrated that they could raise a substantial army, but they had failed to turn that strength into a successful campaign.
The inconclusive result at Sheriffmuir prevented Mar from gaining a decisive advantage over the Government army. The surrender at Preston simultaneously removed the Jacobite threat in England, while James Francis Edward Stuart arrived only after the campaign had begun to collapse. The Rising therefore ended without restoring the Stuarts or removing George I from the throne. For those involved, the consequences could be severe. Jacobite prisoners faced trial, imprisonment, transportation and, in some cases, execution, while estates belonging to prominent supporters could be forfeited.
What Happened After the 1715 Jacobite Rising?
The defeat of 1715 was a major setback, but it did not bring the Jacobite cause to an end. James Francis Edward Stuart returned to continental Europe and Jacobite supporters continued to maintain connections between Britain and the exiled Stuart court.
The political circumstances surrounding the movement would change repeatedly over the following decades, shaped not only by events in Britain but by rivalries between European powers. For the Jacobites, 1715 had ended in failure. It would not be their last attempt to restore the Stuarts.
Continue the story: The Jacobite Risings, 1715–1745
