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Top 10 Sensational Facts about Culloden Battlefield

Culloden is a tract of moorland in the county of Inverness, Scotland, forming a part of the northeast of Drummossie Moor and lying about 6 miles (10 km) east of Inverness. Culloden Battlefield is the site of the final battle of the Jacobite uprising.

On the 16th of April, 1745, a brave group of Scottish clansmen faced off the English army for what the Jacobites considered the rightful king of Britain, Charles Edward Stuart, also known as Bonnie Prince Charlie.

The battle, which lasted only 40 minutes, resulted in bitter defeat for the heavily outnumbered Jacobites. Battle of Culloden, also called Battle Of Drummossie.

It was the last of a series of rebellions, known as the Jacobite Risings, that began shortly after King James II of England (known as James VII in Scotland)  was deposed in 1688.

The Battle of Culloden holds cultural significance not only for what happened on the battlefield but for the repercussions of the Jacobite Rising.

Clans and traditions were stripped, the Gaelic language (unsuccessfully) squashed, and thousands of people were deported to America or died of starvation.

The battle is indeed hugely significant in Scottish history and here are the top ten sensational facts about Culloden Battlefield.

1. The Fight at Culloden Battlefield Brought to an end  a 60-year Monarchy Contest

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The fact is that on April 16, 1746, the Jacobite army of Charles Edward Stuart was defeated by a British government force led by William Augustus, Duke of Cumberland.

This Jacobite rising was to be the last major attempt to restore the exiled Stuart monarchy back to the throne of Great Britain.

Surviving accounts of the Battle of Culloden and the wider conflict present a range of views of the battle and its consequences.

Some viewed the battle as Scottish Highlanders against the Lowlanders; some as a religious conflict between Catholics and Protestants; others viewed it as a war between the English and the Scots.

ultimately this conflict was between the Jacobite army trying to restore the Stuart family to the British throne, and the Government army determined to quash the challenge.

2. The Battle of  Culloden  Lasted Less than an Hour

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The battle,  lasted around 40 minutes, ending in a crushing defeat for the outnumbered Jacobites.

Some 1,000 of the Young Pretender鈥檚 army of 5,000 weak and starving Highlanders were killed by the 9,000 Redcoats, who lost only 50 men.

 The devastating slaughter of the Jacobites was the result of the opening British cannonade.

The redcoats’ artillery, supervised by the experienced artilleryman Brevet Colonel William Belford, Fired with devastating effect.

Belford’s guns tore giant holes in the Jacobite ranks. The Prince’s artillery replied, but their fire was ineffectual.

3. The fight at Culloden Battle Field wasn鈥檛 the 1st Jacobite Uprising

1745 was the fourth Jacobite rising in close to 60 years and was to be the last major attempt to restore the exiled Stuart monarchy back to the throne of Great Britain

The first major battle in the uprising was the Battle of Dunkeld in 1688 – 1689.

The Battle of Culloden is one of the main Jacobite uprisings people learn about in history, but it definitely wasn鈥檛 the first.

There were a number of attempts to put a Stuart king back on the throne before 1745.

In fact, the first rising started back in 1688, shortly after King James II of England/VII of Scotland supposedly abdicated his throne (he ran from the Protestant forces to save his life and Parliament decided he鈥檇 abdicated).

Williamite War (1689鈥�91) Jacobite rising of 1715鈥�6 Jacobite rising of 1719 Jacobite rising of 1745鈥�6.

4.  English, Irish, French and Scots were Engaged at Culloden Battlefield

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Culloden wasn鈥檛 just the Scottish against the redcoats. There were a number of other nationalities involved.

In fact, a number of Irish and English that supported the Stuart claim to the throne backed the Jacobites and sent men to fight against the British army.

While there were multiple other nations fighting on the Jacobite side, there were also Scottish clans fighting on the side of the Crown.

Some of those Scottish clans were Highland clans. A Highlander didn鈥檛 necessarily make someone a Jacobite nor did being a Catholic! Most of the common recruits, though, were from the North East of Scotland.

 The Jacobites were heavily armed with muskets and formed into conventional regiments.

5. The Duke of Cumberland led Government  Troops at Culloden

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Prince William Augustus, Duke of Cumberland lived from 15 April 1721 to 31 October 1765.

He was the son of George II and Queen Caroline and he became a celebrated military leader at a very young age and commanded the Government forces that defeated the Jacobites at the Battle of Culloden in 1746.

The Crown鈥檚 forces at Culloden were led by William Augustus, Duke of Cumberland, and King George II鈥檚 youngest son.

He had gained the reputation of 鈥淭he Butcher鈥� due to his atrocities against Jacobite soldiers.

While he may have been named 鈥淭he Butcher,鈥� the Duke of Cumberland knew his military strategy.

6. the Jacobites’ Attack was doomed to Fail due to Poor Leadership

 Jacobite men, women and children were not well-rested before the battle.

Culloden Moor was an open stretch of boggy land. The idea for the Jacobites was to charge across the moor, where they would find themselves stuck and sitting ducks for the British.

Further, there was poor leadership and disagreement between the clans. As the clans waited for the order to charge, Cumberland鈥檚 men were able to wipe out a large number of the Jacobite soldiers.

By the time the order to charge did come, many fell over themselves or the bodies of their fallen comrades.

The poor leadership had also led to many clansmen leaving the Jacobite cause during the rising, feeling like it would be a bad idea.

7.  The Highlanders Remained Loyal to Bonnie Prince Charlie

Bonnie Prince Charles Image by Louis Gabriel Blanchet from

While there was no other attempt at a Jacobite rising after Culloden, the Highlanders didn鈥檛 completely turn their backs on the Stuart prince.

In fact, Bonnie Prince Charlie needed their help to get back to Europe. This was when there was a bounty on his head.

The Highlanders refused to turn Bonnie Prince Charlie in for the 拢30,000 reward, despite many of them being in need at the time.

Prince Charles had to escape to Europe and wore many disguises over the years, including dressing as a woman.

He wouldn鈥檛 be the first Stuart monarch to dress in disguises to get away, with his grandfather and great-uncle using disguises at various points in their lives.

8. The Stuart claim to the Throne didn鈥檛 end at Culloden Battlefield

While the Jacobite uprising never took place on British soil again, the Stuart claim didn鈥檛 quite end with the 鈥�45.

Eventually, Bonnie Prince Charlie would be viewed as King Charles III of England and Scotland by the Catholics, even by some European courts.

Even after his death, some viewed his brother, Cardinal Henry Benedict Stuart, as the next king.

This wasn鈥檛 an official view by the European courts for various reasons, though.

Charles lived his whole life attempting to find a way back to Britain to reclaim the throne for House Stuart.

9. The Failed Night Attack at Nairn

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Following Hawley鈥檚 defeat at Falkirk, the Duke of Cumberland arrived in Scotland to take command of the government forces.

His army reached Cullen on 11 April, where it was joined by six further battalions and two cavalry regiments.

While the Duke of Cumberland鈥檚 troops were toasting to his birthday on the night of the 15th of April their adversaries were watching.

The Jacobites, led by Lieutenant-General Lord George Murray decided to carry out a night attack on the government encampment.

Murray proposed that they set off at dusk and march to Nairn. His plan was to have the right-wing of the first line attack Cumberland鈥檚 rear, while the Duke of Perth with the left-wing would attack the government鈥檚 front.

However, the nighttime march was longer than expected and they only arrived at their destination with about an hour of daylight left and had to abort.

10.  The Culloden Battlefield was Used as a  Grazing Ground after the fight

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During the 18th century, however, the area was used as common grazing ground, mainly for tenants of the Culloden estate.

Today, a visitor centre is located near the site of the battle. This centre’s intention is to preserve the battlefield in a condition similar to how it was on 16 April 1746.

Currently, it is covered in shrubs and heather; Those visiting can walk the site by way of footpaths on the ground and can also enjoy a view from above on a raised platform.

Possibly the most recognisable feature of the battlefield today is the 20 feet (6.1 m) tall memorial cairn, erected by Duncan Forbes in 1881.

In the same year, Forbes also erected headstones to mark the mass graves of the clans.

Following up on the military success won by their forces, the British Government enacted laws further to integrate Scotland specifically the Scottish Highlands with the rest of Britain.

Culloden Battlefield is one of the most important heritage sites in Scotland. The moor welcomes visitors looking to walk the famous battle lines and pay respect to those who lost their lives during this historic conflict.