|
On 16 April 1746, an army under Prince Charles Stuart met an army of his cousin, William, Duke of Cumberland, on a moor outside Inverness. The last battle fought on British mainland soil was not, as is commonly understood, between the English and the Scots, but between the British government and their rebels. More Scots fought on the government side than fought for the \'romantic\' Stuart cause. The battle proved rather one sided as the experience government troops out-thought and out-fought the tired Highland clansmen. In the aftermath of Culloden, severe repressive measure were taken by the government against Highland society - tartan and bagpipes were banned and the Gaelic language was not encouraged; traditional heritable jurisdictions were also terminated; and, at various strategic points, strong stone forts were built to help subdue the local population.
|
