#hanovers

On December 6th 1745 Prince Charles Edward Stewart and the Jacobite Army began their retreat from Derby.

Ever since the decision was taken by Prince Charles’ council to turn back at Derby instead of continuing on to London, a decision that ultimately led to the catastrophic defeat at Culloden, historians and Scots in general alike, have debated whether or not the Stuarts could have taken the throne back had they continued.

The young Prince was eager to press onwards, wanting to capitalise on the momentum he had gathered since landing, and though it took five weeks to persuade the other Scots they eventually agreed and marched south across the border with a small army.

They met with little resistance from government forces as they marched south, but the promised support from the English people did not come.

When the cold and tired highlanders reached Derby, which was 120 miles from London, they had to make an important decision.

Charlie wanted to press on despite the presence of a sizeable army under King George I’s son the Duke of Cumberland in the area, and meet the enemy in the field.

The Scottish Lords, however, advised retreat, and after overriding Charlie’s protests the army began to slink back north. Little did the Lords know the the King in London was expecting the invading army any day and was preparing to flee.

Had the Scots known this and pressed on, it seems very likely that King Charles III would have been crowned in Westminster abbey, but it was not to be.

The retreat north in freezing winter weather was hard, but the tough highlanders managed to keep ahead of their red-coated pursuers all the way back north.

I will pick up more details of the Jacobite retreat in ten days time.

Pics are The Pretender's Troops Demanding Billets at the 'Red Lion' Inn,

1. george i. invented babygirlism idc. that's my cutie patootie 3000 enough said <333

2. george iii. he was sooo cute with his lil ponytail when he was younger,, the babygirlism in his genes came through.

3. george ii. ehh. i adore his accent but if anything he's more babyboy. we still stan though!!