Culloden : the famous field and infamous battle

A Jacobite was a supporter of the cause of King James VII of Scotland and II of England. King James fled from Britain in 1689 to escape an army led by the invader William of Orange. The term Jacobite comes from the name 'Jacobe', which is Latin for James. James was the last Stuart King.

Prince Charles (known as Bonny Prince Charlie) was the grandson of the deposed James II of England, Charles was fighting to reclaim the right of his family to rule. His claim to the throne was that he was descended from King James VI of Scotland who went on to London to be crowned King James I of England and Ireland.



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Culloden Moor is flat, open and exposed. Perfect for a well trained regiment of soldiers with firing weapons. The tactical advantage of this field was in favour of the English.

Walking amongst the landscape 260 years later you can see rough parts with unexpected soft marshy areas.

Many myths and legends have grown since the battle. One is that it was between the Scots and the English. Like many wars, it is not so black and white but had shades of grey as there were more Scots fighting for the Government side.

In the end, the loss of this battle by the Jacobite's was the beginning of the end of the Highland clan system.

The clans who fought with the Prince at Culloden included: Cameron, Chisholm, Drummond, Farquharson, Ferguson, Fraser, Gordon, Grant, Innes, MacDonald, MacDonell, MacGillvray, MacGregor, MacInnes, MacIntyre, Mackenzie, MacKinnon, MacKintosh, MacLachlan, MacLeod, MacPherson, Menzies, Murray, Ogilvy, Robertson, and Stewart of Appin.



Map of Scotland in the 1520s, Showing Territories of the Highland Clans
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Approximately 2,000 clansmen lost their lives at Culloden, either during the battle or shortly after. For nearly a year after Culloden the clans paid the price for losing the battle. Settlements were looted and burnt, cattle were confiscated, After the military effort ended legislation against the clans began. Estates of rebel landowners were forfeit to King George II. The kilt and tartan was banned in the Dress Act of 1746. Severe penalties were enforced for carrying weapons.

Culloden village is three miles east of Inverness. Three miles south of the village is Drummossie Moor (often called Culloden Moor), site of the Battle of Culloden. Culloden battlefield is managed by the National Trust for Scotland, and its visitors' centre is a major tourist attraction.

The visitor centre is a relatively new addition to the site being officially opened to the public on 16 April 2008. When you visit you can walk around by way of footpaths. One of the features of the battlefield is the 20 ft tall memorial cairn, erected by Duncan Forbes in 1881.

This plaque is on the large Cairn that stands on the site of the battlefield at Culloden. The members of each clan are buried together and a single marker bears the name of the clan. Forbes also these headstones which mark the mass graves of the clans.


Prince Charles Edward Stuart (1720-1788), After the Battle of Culloden
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"Speed bonnie boat like a bird on the wing,
Onward the sailors cry,
Carry the lad that's born to be king,
Over the sea to Skye,

Loud the winds howl loud the waves roar,
Thunderclaps rend the air,
Baffled our foes stand on the shore,
Follow they will not dare.

Many's the lad fought on that day,
Well the claymore did wield,
When the night came silently lay,
Dead on Culloden field."