Bonnie Prince Charlie

NAME Charles Edward Louis John Casimir Sylvester Severino Maria Stuart, commonly known as Bonnie Prince Charlie.

WHAT FAMOUS FOR Bonnie Prince Charlie is most famous for leading the Jacobite uprising of 1745 in an attempt to restore his family, the House of Stuart, to the British throne.

BIRTH Bonnie Prince Charlie was born on December 31, 1720, in the Palazzo Muti in Rome, Italy.

FAMILY BACKGROUND He was the eldest son of James Francis Edward Stuart, the Old Pretender, and Maria Clementina Sobieska, a Polish princess. He was the grandson of James II of England and VII of Scotland, who was deposed in the Glorious Revolution of 1688. 

Charles had a younger brother, Henry Benedict, who became a Roman Catholic priest and later a bishop and a cardinal. He was known for his charity and his kindness, and he was a popular figure in Rome. Henry Benedict's death on July 13, 1807 marked the end of the Stuart male line and the Jacobite dynasty. 

CHILDHOOD Charles spent his early years in Italy, growing up in Rome and Bologna, where he was surrounded by a court of Jacobite supporters who nurtured his belief in his family's right to the British throne.

Charles was a bright and curious child, and he loved to learn. 

EDUCATION His education was typical for a prince of his time, focusing on languages, history, military strategy, and the arts. He received instruction from private tutors.

Charles was highly intelligent. At six-years-old, he had more languages under his belt than most diplomats – English, French, Italian, Latin, the whole shebang. Apparently, he could also do math and even knew where all the countries were,.

CAREER RECORD Charles's career is marked by his leadership of the 1745 Jacobite rebellion. Despite initial successes, his campaign ultimately ended in defeat at the Battle of Culloden in 1746.

APPEARANCE Contemporary accounts describe Bonnie Prince Charlie as handsome, with a fair complexion, blue eyes, and a distinctive aquiline nose. He was of  above average height and had a strong, athletic build. In later years, he put on weight and his skin became more ruddy. Some people have commented that he looks bloated and gross.

Portrait by William Mosman

FASHION Bonnie Prince Charlie was known for his elegant style, often wearing elaborate Highland dress to symbolize his connection to Scotland and the Jacobite cause. He also wore contemporary European court attire.

Bonnie Prince Charlie wore a tartan coat and trousers during the Battle of Culloden. After the battle many highland traditions were banned such as the wearing of kilts.

CHARACTER He was charismatic, determined, and confident, traits that helped him gain and maintain the loyalty of his followers. However, he was also known for being stubborn and occasionally reckless.

SENSE OF HUMOUR Accounts of Charles’s sense of humour suggest he had a lively wit and enjoyed good-natured banter, often engaging in playful exchanges with his supporters and companions.

RELATIONSHIPS Charles had a number of romantic liaisons but only one legitimate marriage, to Princess Louise of Stolberg-Gedern who he married by proxy on March 28, 1772. The couple met for the first time on  April 14, 1772, when they renewed their marriage vows in person in the town of Macerata, Italy

The marriage was unhappy and childless. Princess Louise requested from the pope a decree of separation, which she was granted in 1780

Charles had an illegitimate daughter, Charlotte, with his mistress Clementina Walkinshaw.

MONEY AND FAME Despite his royal heritage, Charles struggled with finances, especially after the failed rebellion. His fame persisted, however, making him a romantic figure in British history and folklore.

FOOD AND DRINK Charles enjoyed the finer things in life, including good food and wine. However, in his later years, he struggled with alcoholism, which affected his health and relationships.

While fleeing for his life after the Battle of Culloden, Charles befriended a chap named Captain Mackinnon who befriended him. To show his gratitude, Charles offered up the recipe for his favorite tipple – a boozy concoction of whisky, heather, honey, and enough spices to knock a yak off its feet. This secret recipe is still guarded by the Mackinnons like Fort Knox, and is the very same stuff you find in a bottle of Drambuie – "a drink that satisfies" in Gaelic, which is a pretty apt description if you've ever had a taste of the real stuff.

MUSIC AND ARTS He appreciated music and the arts, patronizing musicians and artists. The Jacobite cause inspired a rich tradition of songs and poetry celebrating his efforts.

LITERATURE Charles's life and the Jacobite cause have been subjects of numerous books, poems, and historical novels, cementing his legacy in British literary history.

NATURE His campaigns took him through the rugged Scottish Highlands, fostering a connection with the land.

HOBBIES AND SPORTS Charles enjoyed outdoor activities, including hunting and riding. His military training and campaigns also kept him physically active.

Bonnie Prince Charlie was a skilled boxer and crackshot and physically fit, he marched scores of miles each day alongside his men. Whilst living in Avignon, Bonnie Prince Charlie taught the local people how to box.

SCIENCE AND MATHS There is no notable record of Charles having a particular interest or aptitude in science and mathematics.

PHILOSOPHY & THEOLOGY As a Catholic claimant to the British throne, religion played a significant role in his life. He was a devout Catholic and believed in the divine right of kings.

SCANDAL Charles's life was marked by several scandals, including his romantic entanglements, struggles with alcohol, and the eventual collapse of his marriage.

MILITARY RECORD Charles’s military record is defined by his leadership in the Jacobite uprising of 1745-46. 

Now, the Stuarts, his family, weren't exactly the reigning royals anymore, having been booted out a generation or two back. So, Charles, ever the optimist, landed in Scotland with a gaggle of fighters, determined to reclaim the throne. He raised his bulk standard at the head of Loch Shiel on August 19, 1745 and captured a few towns getting as far as Derby on December 4, 1845, by which time he'd ran out of food. It was the furthest point south Charles Stuart and his merry band  reached during the Jacobite rebellion and they were forced to turn back north. 

Things went downhill fast from there. The English Catholics, who Charles was probably counting on for a bit of a rebellion party, decided to stay home and bake scones instead. A £6 million reward was slapped on Charles' head, but bless their kilted hearts, the Scots wouldn't dream of betraying him.

On April 16, 1746, Bonnie Prince Charlie's Jacobite army of Charles Edward Stuart met a British government force under Prince William Augustus, Duke of Cumberland at the Battle of Culloden, on Drummossie Moor near Inverness in the Scottish Highlands. It was the last pitched battle fought on British soil.

Well, within an hour, things went about as well as a haggis-fueled pillow fight for Charles. The Scots were down a whopping 1,500 men, while the Brits lost a measly 50. Not a good look for Charles. And apparently Charles didn't exactly cover himself in glory either. He saw things going south faster than a kilt in a hurricane and scarpered like a rabbit. Not the most inspiring leadership, but hey, at least he wasn't stuck around to get his head chopped off.

So, Charles was now a fugitive, hiding out on some tiny island called Benbecula. Not exactly the Ritz, but it beats being hanged, right? His only hope for escape is to get to the Isle of Skye. Enter Flora Macdonald, a lass with more guts than a haggis-eating champion. She hatches this crazy plan to disguise Charles as her Irish maid, "Betty Burke", and sneak him across the water. Charles thought it was a bit much, but hey, desperate times call for desperate measures, and it actually worked! Prince Charles made it back to France and eventually returned to Italy where he remained for the rest of his life.

HEALTH AND PHYSICAL FITNESS Charles experienced various health issues throughout his life. His later years were marked by a decline in health, exacerbated by alcoholism.

HOMES Bonnie Prince Charlie spent his early years in the Palazzo Muti, Rome. His father had been given the residence by Pope Clement XI. 

After his efforts to reclaim the British throne failed, he lived in several European countries before returning to Rome, where he died.

TRAVEL His life was a series of travels, from his birthplace in Rome to France, where he planned an invasion to restore the Stuart monarchy. He also traveled to Scotland to lead the Jacobite uprising of 1745 and made a secret visit to London later in life.

DEATH  Bonnie Prince Charlie died of a stroke on January 30, 1788, in Rome. He was first buried in the Cathedral of Frascati, where his brother Henry Stuart was bishop. At Henry's death in 1807, Charles's remains were moved to the crypt of Saint Peter's Basilica in Vatican City where they were laid to rest next to those of his brother and father.

APPEARANCES IN MEDIA The Prince's life and the Jacobite cause have been romanticized in various forms of media, including literature, film, and television. His portrayal often reflects a heroic failure and a romantic figure. Here are a few notable ones:

Films Rob Roy (1995): This historical drama film features Bonnie Prince Charlie as a supporting character, played by Rupert Everett. The film follows the story of Rob Roy MacGregor, a Scottish outlaw who becomes entangled in the Jacobite uprising.

Culloden (1964): This British war film depicts the events leading up to the Battle of Culloden, the final confrontation of the Jacobite uprising. The film stars Michael Caine as Captain Nathaniel Yorke, a fictional British officer caught in the conflict.

"The Skye Boat Song" is a popular folk song about Bonnie Prince Charlie's escape to Skye after the Battle of Culloden.

"Bonnie Prince Charlie" is a traditional Scottish folk song that celebrates the charm and charisma of the Jacobite leader.

"Farewell to Glengarry" is another folk song lamenting the defeat of the Jacobites at Culloden.

ACHIEVEMENTS Despite the ultimate failure of the Jacobite uprisings, Bonnie Prince Charlie is remembered for his charismatic leadership and the initial military successes, making it as far south as Derby in England. His legacy continues to influence cultural depictions and the historical narrative of the period.