The Scottish History That Inspired Outlander

Outlander begins around the time of the Jacobite Rising of 1745. We follow the plight of Claire Randall, a nurse who is mysteriously swept back in time from 1946 to 1743. Seemingly stuck in the past, she meets the handsome Highlander Jamie Fraser. He is a brave soldier and Scottish landowner with Jacobite sympathies, educated in France and handy with a sword. But who were the Jacobites?

Jacobite simply means, in Latin, ‘supporter of James’. The James this refers to is James the VII of Scotland, the last Roman Catholic monarch to reign over the kingdoms of England, Scotland and Ireland. Invaded by his Protestant son-in-law in 1688 and subsequently overthrown, James was forced into exile in France. Still following?! Over the next sixty years James’ supporters would stage a series of rebellions with the aim of restoring James and his heirs to the throne.

Find out more about the Jacobite risings

After a brief period in France where he tried to gain support for his endeavour, he landed in Scotland in 1745. The Prince gained support from Highlanders and other factions and experienced some success in battle, eventually advancing into England. But he and his troops were forced to retreat, and Charles was eventually stopped at the tragic Battle of Culloden in 1746. After Culloden, Charles made his escape to Europe with the help of Jacobite heroine Flora Macdonald and lived the rest of his life in exile. The tale of his escape is now part of Scottish folklore.

In the Outlander novels, Charles develops a fictional friendship with Jamie Fraser. We witness the Prince scheming to reclaim the throne in France before the decisive battles in Scotland and his eventual defeat.

Find out more about Bonnie Prince Charlie 

Discover more about this era of Scottish history at the Skye Museum of Island Life

The Battle of Culloden was fought just east of Inverness on the 16 April 1746. With an army of 5,000 Jacobites, Bonnie Prince Charlie fought against a Government army of 8,000 led by the Duke of Cumberland. The battle was the culmination of years of upheaval and political turmoil – the throne of Great Britain was at stake. Who fought, and why they fought, is complicated – a vast web of allegiances and loyalties.

One thing we can be certain of is that Culloden was a resounding defeat for the Jacobites. In less than an hour, around 1,500 men were slain – more than 1,000 of them Jacobites. It was the last pitched battle on British soil and influenced the course of history for decades to come. The aftermath of the battle saw many people arrested for treason and eventually the dissolution of the clan system in Scotland.

Find out more about visiting Culloden Battlefield