- Duration
- 55 minutes
- Product Type
- Lecture
- Venues
- Holyrood Palace
- Presented by the same world-class experts as our walking tours, Context Lectures highlight must-see attractions, reveal hidden landmarks, and explore the best things to do during your trip so you don’t miss a thing.
- Understand the attempts by the Royal House of Stuart to reclaim the British throne and the famous 1745 rebellion led by Bonnie Prince Charlie.
Taking the form of a virtual tour around the Scottish landmarks most closely associated with the Jacobite rebellions, this lecture will include dramatic tales of bravery, intrigue, deceit, and cruelty. Delve into the stories of historic venues like Braemar, Eilean Donan, and Holyrood Palace – each with its own fascinating tale of bravery, intrigue, and the pursuit of power.
Alan was born and raised in Scotland but has spent most of his adult life in London. Having achieved an MA in Art History at Glasgow University, he worked for many years in the art world at both an international auction house and an antique dealer. He then returned to academia, achieving an MA in Classical Civilisation in 2011, and later completed a Ph.D. in which he analyzed eighteenth-century attitudes towards the ancient Roman world. Elected a Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland in 2017, he published his first book 'Classical Caledonia' in 2020. His latest book, 'Walking the Antonine Wall', recounts his journey on foot along a Roman frontier in Scotland.
This lecture also introduces Highland castles such as Braemar and the iconic Eilean Donan, which were both laid waste in the struggle for power, as well as Holyrood Palace, where Bonnie Prince Charlie made plans for a march on London.
The sites of the most important military encounters will also be discussed, including the location of the brutal Massacre of Glencoe, the picturesque Killiecrankie Gorge, and the melancholy Culloden Moor, where the 1745 rebellion finally came to a bloody end.
What followed were several uprisings in the name of James and later his son, who was hailed by his supporters as the rightful King James III and VIII. The last and most successful of these uprisings was the famous 1745 revolt led by the charismatic Charles Edward Stuart, better known today as Bonnie Prince Charlie.
Regardless of whether you're planning your next trip to Scotland or simply interested in expanding your historical knowledge, this lecture is an enriching opportunity not to be missed.
● Scotland: History of a Nation by David Ross
● The Scottish Nation: A Modern History by T.M. Devine
Looking for inspiration for your next trip to Scotland? Read our Context Stories for even more local tips and tricks.
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