Women of the Jacobite Rebellions

The flight of King James II in November 1688 was a significant event in British history, leading to over fifty years of trouble, strife, war, and execution. However, the role of women in the rebellions and risings has been largely forgotten. This book tells the stories of hundreds of women who were involved, from wounded soldiers to fleeing Jacobites, and from imprisoned to deported. It brings these forgotten women back to life and gives them the rewards they so richly deserve.

Format: Hardback
Length: 224 pages
Publication date: 23 May 2024
Publisher: Pen & Sword Books Ltd

The flight of King James II in November 1688 was a significant event in British history. The deposed Catholic King established himself in Paris, and William and Mary ascended to the English throne, marking the beginning of over fifty years of turmoil, strife, war, and executions that engulfed England, Scotland, and Ireland. The Jacobites, supporters of the dethroned Stuart dynasty, were determined to see James and his heirs restored to the English throne. Invasion after invasion, battle after battle, culminating in the defeat of Charles Edward Stuart at Culloden in 1745, became a defining chapter in the history of the Jacobite cause. However, the story of these rebellions and risings has often been told from the perspective of the male participants, with little attention paid to the role of women. While figures like Flora MacDonald have gained recognition, the contributions of women in the Jacobite cause have been largely forgotten. Yet, there were hundreds of women involved in the Jacobite cause, playing crucial roles in various capacities. Women tended to wounded soldiers, provided safety and comfort to fleeing Jacobites, and even led riots and rebellions themselves. Many were imprisoned, sent away from their homelands, or deported to distant lands. Others carried out daring escapes from prisons, such as The Tower of London, and left behind poems and songs that continue to be read and sung today. Some women, like Jenny Cameron and Grizzel Mhor, became household names for a brief period before fading into obscurity, but their stories are resurrected here. There are many more women, like Anne Farquharson, Colonel Anne, who led a team of five servants in a victorious battle against 1500 redcoats. These women's stories, often overshadowed by the male participants, deserve to be told and celebrated. Their courage, resilience, and contributions to the Jacobite cause should be recognized and honored.

Weight: 428g
Dimension: 240 x 164 x 23 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781399053297