Charles Edward Stewart Biography

Birth of the "Young Pretender", son of James Edward "the Old Pretender", son of the exiled Stuart King James VII and II, and Maria Clementina Sobieska, the granddaughter of John III Sobieski

Charles's father named him Prince Regent, giving him authority to act in his name

Marshal de Saxe prepares a fleet of 12,000 troops to support the Jacobites. A storm ends the invasion plans of de Saxe

Boards the du Teillay at Minden on the mouth of the Loire

Intercepted by the Lion & forced to return to France with arms & ammunition

Charles writes to Louis XV, saying he had been informed that England could be retaken without civil war as it was stripped of soldiers

Meets Murray of Broughton at Tuileries Palace, who told him he would not get the support of more than 4,000 Highlanders and that he must drop his plans to come to Scotland, when Murray said French backing was extremely unlikely given their defensive position in

Lancaster surrenders to the Jacobites

Charles Edward Stuart, known as "Bonnie Prince Charlie" or the "Young Pretender", arrived in Scotland in 1745 to incite a rebellion of Stuart sympathizers against the House of Hanover

The Jacobite Army reaches as far south as Derby

Charles Edward Stuart, known as "Bonnie Prince Charlie" or the "Young Pretender", arrived in Scotland in 1745 to incite a rebellion of Stuart sympathizers against the House of Hanover

The Prince's army advanced as far as Derby by December 1745 unimpeded. However, in Derby, the Council of Chiefs resolved at Exeter House to proceed no further, since they had been deliberately misled into believing that a major Hanoverian army stood between them and London

The Doutelle sails from Nantes on 22 June 1745, meeting the Elisabeth at Brittany on 4 July and then sailing together for Scotland

"The Young Pretender", sets sail from Nantes to begin a Jacobite rebellion

Charles had hoped for support from a French fleet, but it was badly damaged by storms, and he was left to raise an army in Scotland

Charles raised funds to fit out two ships: the Elisabeth, an old man-of-war of 66 guns, and the Du Teillay (sometimes called Doutelle), a 16-gun privateer, which successfully land him and seven companions at Eriskay

The Doutelle crosses the Sound of Arisaig to Forsay, Moidart

The Jacobite cause was still supported by many Highland clans, both Catholic and Protestant. Charles hoped for a warm welcome from these clans to start an insurgency by Jacobites throughout Britain. He raised his father's standard at Glenfinnan and gathered a force large enough to enable him to march on Edinburgh

The Jacobite cause was still supported by many Highland clans, both Catholic and Protestant. Charles hoped for a warm welcome from these clans to start an insurgency by Jacobites throughout Britain. He raised his father's standard at Glenfinnan and gathered a force large enough to enable him to march on Edinburgh

The Jacobite cause was still supported by many Highland clans, both Catholic and Protestant. Charles hoped for a warm welcome from these clans to start an insurgency by Jacobites throughout Britain. He raised his father's standard at Glenfinnan and gathered a force large enough to enable him to march on Edinburgh

The London Gazette prints the proclamation of the Lords Justices putting a pounds 30,000 bounty on the capture of Charles

The Doutelle sails to Glenuig Bay and Charles travels by land from there to Kinlochmoidart

Charles leaves Kinlochmoidart and the Clanranald MacDonalds helped transport Charles stores to Glenfinnan, where Charles planned a meeting of the chiefs of the clans

Charles's manifesto, dated 16 May 1745, declared that he was executing his father's will by asserting his right to his ancestors' throne.

The Jacobite standard is erected, a banner of red silk with a white space in the centre, the Catholic bishop Hugh MacDonald blesses the standard.

The Marquis of Tullibardine read King James's declaration and commission to the assembled clans, appointing Charles as Prince Regent.

The Marquis of Tullibardine reads aloud the Declaration of King James to the assembled clans, James commission appointing Charles his Prince Regent, and Charles manifesto (dated 16 May 1745), In this manifesto, Charles declared he was executing the will of his father in asserting his undoubted right to the throne of his ancestors

The Jacobite Royal standard is raised at Glenfinnan. 1,200 Jacobite forces gather & for the 2nd time the "old pretender" is proclaimed King

Against long odds, and aided by the early support of Donald Cameron of Lochiel, XIX chief of Clan Cameron, his party of ten raised an army which eventually numbered over 2,000 Scots as they marched to Glenfinnan and then to Edinburgh

He mounted a campaign to take Scotland and England with an eye towards reclaiming what he considered to be his father's two kingdoms (Great Britain, formally united in 1707, and Ireland).

With only 6,000 British troops left in England, and with the majority of those on the continent having been recently defeated, Charles Edward Stuart saw an opportunity to re-open the Jacobite Rising.

Against long odds, and aided by the early support of Donald Cameron of Lochiel, XIX chief of Clan Cameron, his party of ten raised an army which eventually numbered over 2,000 Scots as they marched to Glenfinnan and then to Edinburgh

He mounted a campaign to take Scotland and England with an eye towards reclaiming what he considered to be his father's two kingdoms (Great Britain, formally united in 1707, and Ireland).

With only 6,000 British troops left in England, and with the majority of those on the continent having been recently defeated, Charles Edward Stuart saw an opportunity to re-open the Jacobite Rising.

Captures Perth

The Jacobite forces reach Edinburgh

Proclaimed as James VIII but Edinburgh Castle is held by General Joshua Guest. Occupies Edinburgh & Holyrood Palace

After negotiations had failed, the gates of the city are left open and the Jacobites enter, Charles is met by a cheering crowd of 20,000, however, Edinburgh Castle holds out against his forces

Proclaims himself James VIII

King James VIII is proclaimed as king of Scotland, and Charles as his Regent

Defeats General Copes dragoons

The first significant conflict in the Jacobite rising of 1745. The Jacobite army loyal to James Francis Edward Stuart and led by his son Charles Edward Stuart defeated the Government army loyal to the Hanoverian George II led by Sir John Cope

The Battle of Prestonpans sees the rout of John Copes (commander of the British Army in Scotland) forces by the Jacobites in a Battle that lasted no longer than fifteen minutes

The news of this Jacobite victory reaches London bringing with it shockwaves, Charles Yorke is amazed that Charles, despite landing almost alone in a remote corner of Scotland, could have accomplished so much in so short a space of time

The French commissioned four privateers to give the Jacobites pounds 5,000 in gold, 2,500 muskets, six light field pieces, and twelve French artillerymen under the supervision of James Grant, a Franco-Scottish lieutenant-colonel, these arrive at Montrose and Peterhead between 9 and 19 October"

Charles issues a proclamation in response to King George's summoning of Parliament, in which he forbade any of Jamess Scottish subjects from attending Charles unlawful "assembly", if they ignored this proclamation they would be "proceeded against as Traitors and Rebels to their King and Country...the pretended Union of these Kingdoms being now at an End"

Against the advice of Lord Murray, Charles begins the march into England

Charles, with an escort of Lochiels Camerons and the Hussars, enters England

Charles persuaded his generals that English Jacobites would stage an uprising in support of his cause. He was convinced that France would launch an invasion of England as well. His army of around 5,000 invaded England on 8 November 1745. They advanced through Carlisle and Manchester to Derby and a position where they appeared to threaten London

Carlisle surrenders without a shot being fired

Carlisle is captured by the Jacobites

Derby surrenders to the Jacobites

Arrives at Derby but finds no English support

Only 200 Englisman have joined the Jacobites since their march into England

1500 soldiers which would leave the army unfit for further fighting, if they were defeated in that Battle then the militia would pick them off and a retreat to Scotland would be extremely difficult in such circumstances, Charles, after a long pause, spoke on preparations for the next days marching,

A Council meeting was convened at Exeter House, Lord George Murray began by arguing for a retreat to Scotland, citing the three British armies in England: Cumberlands, Wades and an army supposedly north of London, if the Jacobites defeated Cumberlands forces, Murray argued, they would still lose between 1000 and

Murray interrupted to question the wisdom of marching on, Charles appealed to other officers, who pronounced in favour of Murray, Charles criticised them for giving up guaranteed victory and a Stuart restoration, Murray replied that everyone was in favour of a Stuart restoration and were

Murray interrupted to question the wisdom of marching on, Charles appealed to other officers, who pronounced in favour of Murray, Charles criticised them for giving up guaranteed victory and a Stuart restoration, Murray replied that everyone was in favour of a Stuart restoration and were prepared to die for it,

but that all were certain to die if they proceeded

prepared to die for it, but that all were certain to die if they proceeded

Surrounded by an English force of 30,000 Charles Edward retreats back into Scotland

The Jacobite general, Lord George Murray, and the Council of War insist on the invasion forces returning to join their growing force in Scotland. On 6 December 1745, they withdrew from England, with Charles Edward Stuart leaving command to Murray

The Jacobite army begins retreating from Derby after commanders decide that advancing on London is too dangerous.

A Jacobite rearguard victory over an English detatchment

A minor Jacobite victory

The Camerons & the Prince arrive in Glasgow

After turning back from Derby, for want of either any significant support from English Jacobites or a French invasion, the Jacobite Army returned to Scotland and besieged Major General Blakeney in Stirling Castle

Lays siege to Stirling Castle

The Jacobite Army leaves Glasgow

The Princes army arrives in the Stirling area. The Jacobite army is reinforced by the arrival of Lady MacKintosh and 400 clansmen

Draws up the Jacobite army in battle order south of Bannockburn

On the morning of 17 January, the Jacobites planned an offensive. The army moved cautiously towards Falkirk, avoiding the main road and heading for the Hill of Falkirk which overlooked Hawley's encampment below. With General Hawley established at nearby Callendar House, the Government army was taken by surprise

The Jacobite losses were around 50 dead and 80 wounded. The Jacobites seized some Hanoverian tents, ammunition, wagons, and three of their cannons, but they remained in or around Falkirk for most of the month and lost any initiative they may have gained from the victory

The rebels are led by Prince Charles Edward Stuart & Lord George Murray. Charles Edward & his Highlanders defeat British dragoons capturing 7 guns & 700 men

The Jacobites are defeated at the Battle of Littleferry

In 40 minutes 20% of the 5,000 Highland army is killed, Cumberland loses 50 from 9,000. Ends the Stuart efforts to regain the British throne, the last land Battle in Britain

The Hanoverian victory at Culloden halted the Jacobite intent to overthrow the House of Hanover and restore the House of Stuart to the British throne; Charles Stuart never again tried to challenge Hanoverian power in Great Britain.

The Jacobite forces of Charles Edward Stuart are decisively defeated by Hanoverian forces commanded by William Augustus, Duke of Cumberland.

The conflict was the last pitched battle fought on British soil.

The final confrontation of the Jacobite rising of 1745.

After the defeat at Culloden Moor escapes into exile in France

Charles lived for several years in exile with his Scottish mistress, Clementina Walkinshaw, whom he met, and may have begun a relationship with, during the 1745 rebellion

Prince Charles Edward Is expelled from France by the Treaty of Aix-La-Chapelle

Prince Charles Edward Is expelled from France by the Treaty of Aix-La-Chapelle

Marries Princess Louise of Stolberg-Gedern

Marries Princess Louise of Stolberg-Gedern

Purchases for his residence the Palazzo di San Clemente, now known also in his memory as the Palazzo del Pretendente. In Florence he began to use the title "Count of Albany" as an alias. This title is frequently used for him in European publications; his wife Louise is almost always called "Countess of Albany"