Latest / The Story of Scotland: Clans, Crowns, and the Fight for Identity — Fexingo History / The Jacobite Rising of 1715: Scotland's Forgotten Rebellion
Transcript
- Lucas: So, we've covered a lot of Scottish history on this show—Culloden, Bannockburn, the Clearances. But there's one rebellion that often gets overlooked, overshadowed by Bonnie Prince Charlie and the '45. I'm talking about the Jacobite Rising of 1715—known as 'The Fifteen'. Luna: The Fifteen? I've heard the name but I honestly don't know much about it. Lucas: It's fascinating because it was actually a much larger and better-organized effort than the '45. At its peak, the Jacobite army numbered around 20,000 men—that's bigger than the force Charles Edward Stuart ever commanded. And it was led by a man named John Erskine, the Earl of Mar. Lucas: Mar had been a supporter of the Union of 1707, but he switched sides when the new Hanoverian king, George I, didn't give him the power he expected. So he raised the standard for James Francis Edward Stuart—the Old Pretender—at Braemar in September 1715. Luna: So it was a political move as much as a dynastic one? Lucas: Exactly. Many of the Jacobite leaders were motivated by personal grievances and the hope of advancement. The clans were divided too—some like the Camerons and MacDonalds were solidly Jacobite, but others like the Campbells stayed loyal to the government. The Duke of Argyll, John Campbell, commanded the government forces. Lucas: The key battle took place at Sheriffmuir, near Dunblane, on November 13, 1715. It's one of the most confusing battles in Scottish history—both sides claimed victory because the fighting was so chaotic. Mar's right wing routed Argyll's left, but his own left was crushed by Argyll's right. In the end, the armies just sort of... stopped. Luna: It sounds like a stalemate. Lucas: It was. Argyll held the field, but Mar's army was still intact. The problem was that Mar was a poor general. He hesitated, didn't press his advantage, and the government got reinforcements. Meanwhile, James Francis Edward Stuart finally landed in Scotland in December—but by then it was too late. Lucas: James was not a charismatic leader. He was quiet, devout, and spoke with a heavy French accent. When he arrived, morale was already low. He wanted to keep fighting, but his advisors convinced him to retreat. By February 1716, the rebellion was over, and James fled back to France. Luna: What happened to the Jacobite supporters? Lucas: The government was harsh. The Disarming Acts of 1716 and 1725 aimed to strip the Highlands of weapons and break the clan system. Many leaders were attainted—their lands and titles forfeited. Simon Fraser, later Lord Lovat, was one of those who escaped initially, but he was executed after the '45. Lucas: There's also a tragic story about Brigadier William Mackintosh of Borlum. He led a detachment of Highlanders into England, trying to stir up support, but they were surrounded and captured at Preston. He spent years in prison. Luna: So the '15 really set the stage for the '45. Lucas: Absolutely. The same grievances, the same clan divisions, and the same brutal repression. It's a reminder that the Jacobite cause wasn't just about Bonnie Prince Charlie—it was a long, painful struggle that shaped Scotland's relationship with Britain. Lucas: And that's something we try to bring to life on this show—the real stories behind the myths. We do it without any ads, because we think that keeps the history honest and uninterrupted. Luna: Yeah, and it's a choice we make deliberately. If listeners want to support that approach, we've got a link at buy me a coffee dot com slash fexingo. Lucas: Exactly. So, back to the Fifteen—one of the things I find most striking is how quickly the rebellion fell apart once James arrived. He just wasn't the leader people hoped for. Luna: It makes you wonder if the Stuarts ever really had a chance after the Union. Lucas: That's the question. And it's one we'll keep exploring.