Scottish Blog

1720-1788

The Bonnie Prince Charlie was born as, Charles Edward Louis John Casimir Silvester Maria Stuart, in Rome. He was the grandson of King James II. Most commonly, he was referred to as the Bonnie Prince Charlie or Charles Edward Stuart in formality.

Historically, the Bonnie Prince Charlie is remembered for leading the Jacobite Uprising of 1745. By 1734, the Bonnie Prince Charlie had already experienced warfare, in the siege of Gaeta. In 1743, he was named Prince Regent by his father, allowing him to act in his name. This lead the Bonnie Prince Charlie in endeavoring to lead a Scottish uprising to restore his father to the throne. The original plan for the uprising involved the help of a French war fleet, but it was heavily damaged in a storm and had to turn back. On the 23rd of July, 1745, the Bonnie Prince Charlie landed in Scotland, Eriskay.

The Bonnie Prince Charlie managed to raise an army under his father standard (banner, symbol). He then marched upon Edinburgh, he also defeated the only Scottish government army at the Battle of Prestonpans. Although he and his army were defeated at the Battle of Culloden. After this, the Bonnie Prince Charlie retreated and exiled himself into France.

The rest of the life of the Bonnie Prince Charlie was spent in exile in France. Later in his life he developed a drinking problem and lost faith in his cause.