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It is incongruous that the tribal Highlands clan system still survived while the Scottish Enlightenment flowered. About the only things the two movements had in common were affiliations with France and a penchant for rugged, moral individualism. (Both of these elements were shared with many intellectuals in the American Colonies.) Scotland had already been officially merged into the United Kingdom with England and Wales in 1707. The Industrial Revolution was underway in England, Wales and Lowland Scotland. The Enlightenment was already stirring in France, with its dual themes of nation and society soon to rock traditional systems throughout Western Europe and North America. But in 1746 the traditional Highland clans still lived and died by the sword. Therefore, Culloden was inevitable. And, when it did happen, the end was swift, bloody, and absolute.
BONNIE PRINCE
CHARLIE BIDS Following Culloden, King George’s men ransacked the Highlands, carrying out the order to put an end to whatever vestiges of the clan system remained. For some time afterwards the playing of bagpipes, wearing of tartan, and carrying of weapons were viewed as serious crimes against the state.
MEMORIAL CAIRN AT CULLODEN BATTLEFIELD The Culloden Battlefield—site of the last military battle on British soil—remains barren today, hosting solemn, curious visitors from all over the world, plus one flock of sheep to help keep the land virtually as it was in 1746. The site is owned and maintained by The National Trust for Scotland, who acquired the battlefield in various parcels over time. Although it is the heathland (also called moor: Merriam-Webster on-line again:
Nearest Home at First Cottages: are in Inverness city about 15 minutes drive and on the Northern Highlands Estate about 35 minutes drive from Culloden Moor Battlefield Getting There: take the A96 five miles east from Inverness. Turn right on the B9006, and follow signs to the Culloden Moor Battlefield. Open: Battlefield
open daily all year, daily. The Visitor Centre, restaurant and shop is open daily 11AM-4PM
Feb-Mar & Nov-Dec (except Dec. 24-26), and daily from 9AM-6PM Apr-Oct. Home at First’s Northern Scotland
cottages are a short day trip away from Culloden Battlefield in Inverness city and on a large Northern Highland estate. You can visit Culloden and most of
Northern Scotland from your home base in |
The Battle of Culloden was a disaster for the 5,000 or so Highland clansmen, Irish
volunteers, and the few French troops who were quickly overwhelmed by King George’s
army of 9,000 redcoats made up of English, Irish, Lowland Scots, and Argyll Campbells.
Likely 1,500 or more of Bonnie Prince Charlie’s forces died that day, many of them
slaughtered while laying wounded on the battlefield well after the hour-long battle was
over. (Perhaps 50 redcoats died.)
THE BATTLE OF CULLODEN MOOR
Charles Edward Stuart, the Young
Pretender, Bonnie Prince Charlie, evidently pretended to be field commander on April 16,
1746, taking direct field command of his army for the only time. After Culloden he was
whisked away to safe houses throughout the Highlands, ultimately placed in the safekeeping
of Flora Macdonald on the Isle of Skye. It was from Skye that the Young Pretender was
rescued by a French warship and taken to exile on the Continent. He died an unhappy
alcoholic’s death in Rome. Flora Macdonald was briefly jailed by the English, then
relocated to the American Colonies where she helped recruit Scots for the British army in
North Carolina during the American Revolution.
The Battle of Culloden changed
Highlands Scotland the way the Battle of Gettysburg changed the American Southland. In
each case, a venerable, romantic, and thoroughly outdated way of life met a sudden,
disastrous end at the hands of the overwhelming might of a more modern, technological
society. In each case the defeat was so total, and the accompanying cultural change so
monumental that not long afterwards societies formed to commemorate and even perpetuate
the old ways.