Scotland's Hidden Wars: The Jacobite Succession

The Story of Scotland: Clans, Crowns, and the Fight for Identity — Fexingo History · Sep 19, 2026 · 8m · transcript

We often think of the Jacobite risings as a series of battles, but the real story begins long before Bonnie Prince Charlie arrived in Scotland. This episode explores the complex diplomatic maneuvering and royal marriages that kept the Stuart claim alive after 1745. We look at Henry Benedict Stuart, the last Jacobite heir, and his quiet life in Rome, where he navigated the treacherous politics of the Papal Court while maintaining the pretense of a living king. Through letters to exiled supporters and secret negotiations with European powers, the Jacobite cause transformed from a military…