Why was catholic Bonnie Prince Charlie so popular in Presbyterian Scotland?
A Scotland wasn’t entirely Presbyterian B Charlie wasn’t overly popular. His support was more ethnically based than religious. The highlands still maintained the Gaelic culture, while the Presbyterian heartlands were in the more populated Scots-speaking (Saxon-descended) lowlands and urban south. The highlanders were generally regarded as tougher, more hardy people, while the south had lowland farmers, merchants and city-folk. When Charles raised his standard, Protestant and Catholic clan chiefs both rallied to his cause; their culture had come under pressure from the Scots- and similar English-speakers since the Union in 1707, and they saw this as a chance to change their fortunes. When Charles’ army gathered and marched south, taking Edinburgh was the key to success. The good burghers of Edinburgh didn’t want to see their fair city destroyed by a siege, so they quickly surrendered. The Jacobites soon defeated the government army at nearby Prestonpans and Scotland was theirs. Certainl
