The Jacobite Rising, Part VII: The Fall of the '45

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Recommended Reading:

The '45 by Christopher Duffy 

In Fight for a Throne by Christopher Duffy 

Episode Summary

The smoke has cleared over Culloden Moor, but for the Jacobite cause, the disaster is only beginning. While popular memory often ends with the final charge, the reality of the "'45" was a protracted, harrowing aftermath of dispersed regiments and a Prince on the run. Join hosts Dr. Alexander Burns, Dr. Andrew Bamford and Lee Gugino as they welcome back resident expert Dr. Aaron Johnston to close out our six-part series with the definitive account of the rebellion’s final hours.

In this episode, we deconstruct why Culloden was a decisive logistical endpoint rather than just another defeat, exploring the "cat with nine lives" that finally ran out of resources, money, and space. We follow Prince Charles Edward Stuart through the Hebrides, analyze the government’s horrific exploitation of victory in Inverness, and examine the legal "hammer" of the Dress Act and Act of Prescription that changed the Highlands forever.

What Are You Missing? (Edited vs. Uncut)

To provide maximum value to our War Room members, the Full Uncut Edition contains nearly 45 minutes of exclusive content not found in this edited release:

• The Decoy of Roderick McKenzie: The grim story of the Prince’s "dead ringer" who was killed by government forces to protect the real Charles Edward.
• The "French Picket" Loophole: A detailed look at the legal to-ing and fro-ing over which prisoners were "rebellious subjects" and which were "French soldiers" eligible for repatriation.
• Historical Memory & Modern Politics: An uncut deep dive into how the '45 is remembered in 2026, its connection to Scottish national identity, and what the Prince might have thought of modern politics.
• The Preservation Crisis: Dr. Johnston’s expert take on the "Pashton project" and the ongoing battle to protect the Culloden battlefield from modern development.
• Johnny Cope’s Fiddle: The bizarre, true story of the British General’s traveling fiddle and how it ended up in a tiny Highland museum.

Episode Timestamps

• [00:00] – Recap: The immediate fallout of the disaster at Culloden.
• [12:15] – Logistical Death: Why the army couldn't recover a "tenth life".
• [25:30] – Securing Inverness: The brutal military occupation of the Highland hub.
• [40:45] – The Great Escape: How the Jacobite leadership "soaked" back into the hills.
• [58:00] – Betty Burke: The Prince’s "Irish Maid" disguise and the treachery of the Hebrides.
• [1:15:00] – The Act of Prescription: Disarming the Highlands and the ban on male Highland dress.
• [1:30:00] – Closing the Book: Final thoughts on the legacy of the Stuarts.

Meet the Expert

Dr. Aaron Johnston: The director of the Preston Pans Battlefield Museum, Dr. Johnston is a leading authority on Jacobite material culture and the military history of the 1745 Rising.

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