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Fig. 2.12

Portrait of Bonnie Prince Charlie

many JamesJames, many Charles, one Bonnie Prince, one last battle at CullodenCulloden“Bonnie” is an old-fashioned word (can still be used in some Scottish dialects) for “pretty” and nicknames can be helpful in distinguishing the many Charles and JamesJames in English history. The first James, called James IJames I of EnglandEngland (who happened to be James VI of ScotlandScotland), had a son who later became Charles ICharles I (who was beheaded as you might remember). Charles I had two sons, whom he named Charles and James. The oldest one, Charles, became Charles IICharles II when the monarchy was restored (after Cromwell) and was known as a “Merrie Monarch” in contrast to the PuritanPuritan lifestyle of Cromwell. When Charles II died with no legitimate children, his brother James IIJames II became king (later exiled because of his RomanRoman CatholicRoman Catholic faith as we just heard). James II belonged to the StuartStuart dynasty and in addition to his daughter Mary (who married William and became the only couple ever to jointly rule England) had a son, whom he named … yes, I’m sorry but the English monarchs seemed to have been very conservative in giving names to their children … James. This James became known as the “Old PretenderOld Pretender” to the throne by those who thought he had no right to claim the throne and had a son named … not James … but Charles; and it is this very Charles who became known as “Bonnie Prince Charlie” and who led the last attempt by the Catholic Stuarts to regain the Protestant British throne. This movement, by the way, was called “Jacobite” after the Latin form of the name James. What would you call the son of an “Old Pretender” if you thought he too had no right to the throne? The “Young PretenderYoung Pretender” of course, and Bonnie Prince Charlie, the Young Pretender, tried to regain [68]Britain and with some help from Scotland came with an army to CullodenCulloden, a town close to InvernessInverness in the Scottish HighlandsHighlands, where the last battle on British soil was fought. The forces of George IIGeorge II defeated Bonnie Prince CharlesBonnie Prince Charles’ army and thus ended all Stuart hopes of regaining the throne. George II as you can imagine was the son of George I, the GermanGerman we just met, and one of many Georges to come – a relief after all the James and Charles we’ve had to deal with. But before we leave all the James and Charles for good (or at least up until the present Charles, Prince of WalesCharles, Prince of Wales, who may become Charles III if he ever becomes king), you may perhaps ask about Bonnie Prince CharlesPrince Charles’ nickname. Evidently Bonnie Prince Charles was so pretty that disguised as an Irish maid he was able to flee George’s troops, who chased him all over Scotland.