6 things Outlander didn’t include about Bonnie Prince Charlie

Converting to Protestantism

One of the main reasons Charles and his father were ineligible for the British throne was their faith. After Charles’ grandfather’s (James VII/II) actions, Parliament enacted a law that meant all British monarchs had to be Protestant. After all, the British monarch would be the Head of the Church of England, a Protestant denomination of the Christian religion.

The Stuart family was Catholic, although not all Jacobites were. It’s a point raised briefly in Outlander, with James being a practicing “dirty Papist” (as Willie later calls him), but it’s not brought up too much. Nor is the fact that Charles tried to distance himself and his family from the Catholic religion to gain the throne. He was angry when his father allowed his younger brother to join the Catholic church. In the end, Charles cut ties with his father and converted to Protestantism. Unfortunately it still didn’t get him the crown he craved.

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The Jacobites fought King George’s own son

King George II of Britain’s own son was at the Battle of Culloden. Charles and his army went up against William Augustus, Duke of Cumberland. He was the sixth child and third son. The man was barely mentioned in the books and series, and definitely wasn’t shown. It could have been interesting with son against son, even just the idea of it.

In the end, Charles ran away before the battle began. Jamie knew that it would end in disaster and wanted Charles out. Yet in reality, Charles fled in the hope that he could hurry along the promised French support. He didn’t and the Jacobite rising ended with the failure at Culloden.

The Duke of Cumberland was a prominent figure in the aftermath of Culloden. He earned the nickname “The Butcher” because of his dastardly actions.