Jacobite

Jacobite. A Jacobite is a supporter of the exiled House of Stuart and its claim to the thrones of England, Scotland, and Ireland following the Glorious Revolution of 1688. The movement, deriving its name from the Latin for James, *Jacobus*, was primarily composed of Tories and Highland clans who opposed the Hanoverian succession. It posed a significant political and military threat to the British government throughout much of the 18th century, culminating in the failed Jacobite risings of 1715 and 1745.

History

The origins of Jacobitism lie in the Glorious Revolution, which deposed the Catholic James II (James VII of Scotland) in favor of his Protestant daughter Mary II and her husband William of Orange. The birth of James Francis Edward Stuart, a Catholic heir, in 1688 solidified the exiled court at the Château de Saint-Germain-en-Laye in France. Early conspiracies, such as the Assassination Plot of 1696, failed to restore the Old Pretender. The Act of Settlement 1701 cemented Protestant succession by passing over dozens of Catholic heirs in favor of the Electress Sophia of Hanover. The Acts of Union 1707 created a single Kingdom of Great Britain, further unifying the crown Jacobites sought. Major armed challenges occurred during the Jacobite rising of 1715 and the Jacobite rising of 1745, the latter led by Charles Edward Stuart.

Beliefs and practices

Jacobite ideology was a complex blend of political, religious, and national loyalties. Its core tenet was the divine right of kings, rejecting the Parliament's right to depose a monarch, a principle articulated by theorists like Charles Leslie. For many, especially in the Scottish Highlands and parts of Ireland, support was intrinsically linked to Catholicism, though the movement also included Episcopalians and Non-jurors who refused oaths to the new regime. In Scotland, Jacobitism became intertwined with resistance to the Union, the dismantling of the clan system, and grievances over economic policies like the Malt Tax. Rituals included drinking toasts to "The King over the Water" and the use of symbols like the White Rose.

Political and military activities

Jacobite activity ranged from clandestine plotting to full-scale rebellion. Diplomatically, the Stuart court sought support from Catholic Europe, notably Louis XIV's France, Spain, and the Papal States. Military efforts were defined by the major risings: the Fifteen under the Earl of Mar, which included battles at Sheriffmuir and the Preston; and the Forty-Five, where Charles Edward Stuart's forces achieved initial success at Prestonpans and Falkirk Muir before the decisive defeat at Culloden. Other actions included the 1719 expedition to Scotland supported by Spain and the aborted French invasion of 1744. Post-Culloden, repression was severe, involving the disarming of the Highlands, the abolition of heritable jurisdictions, and the Highland Clearances.

Cultural legacy

The romantic tragedy of the Jacobite cause has left a profound mark on British culture, particularly in Scotland. It is memorialized in numerous Gaelic songs like *Mo Rùn Geal Òg* and later romantic literature by Sir Walter Scott in works such as *Waverley*. The movement's iconography, including the "Bonnie Prince Charlie" myth and the engraved glassware, remains potent. Commemorations and clan gatherings often reference this history, while the British Army regiments of the Household Division still toast the sovereign "Over the Water" on certain occasions. The cause also influenced the development of Toryism and concepts of legitimacy in political thought.

List of Jacobite claimants

The Jacobite line of succession, deemed by supporters as the legitimate sovereigns, is as follows: * James II & VII (1688–1701) * James Francis Edward Stuart ("The Old Pretender"), styled James III and VIII (1701–1766) * Charles Edward Stuart ("The Young Pretender" or "Bonnie Prince Charlie"), styled Charles III (1766–1788) * Henry Benedict Stuart ("Cardinal Duke of York"), styled Henry IX and I (1788–1807) Upon the death of Henry Benedict Stuart, the Jacobite claim, by their own principles, passed to the senior heir by primogeniture, which was Charles Emmanuel IV of Sardinia, a descendant of Henrietta Anne Stuart, through the House of Savoy. The line continues through the House of Wittelsbach to the present Duke of Bavaria, Franz, Duke of Bavaria.

Category:Jacobitism Category:British monarchy Category:History of the British Isles