The news of John Sayles’ novel Jamie MacGillivray: The Renegade’s Journey sent me down a wee Jacobite sidetrail. Dinna fash! I haven’t neglected my work — I got the first King Philip’s War episode recorded and ready to drop on schedule. Look for it on December 28.
But ye ken that I canna resist a foray into Jacobite history. Jamie MacGillivray, y’ see is a Jacobite rebel — a supporter of the exiled King Across the Water and his son, the Bonnie Prince Charlie. A more enthusiastic one, it seems, than the other famous Jamie, who, thanks to his time-traveling Sassenach wife, knows that this all ends badly…
Be that as it may…
Not all Jacobites were Scottish Highlanders, and not all Scottish Highlanders were Jacobites — but the hard core of the Jacobite cause resided in the Highlands, and the disastrous outcome of the 1745 Rising led to the destruction of the Highland Clans and their way of life.
Jacobitism was a significant undercurrent in a century and more of Frontier Partisan history. The failure(s) of the Cause contributed to a Highlander diaspora that greatly impacted the North American Fur Trade. Highlander troops played a major role in the French & Indian War, and Scottish Jacobites were flung out into the hinterlands of the world to play various and important roles on all of the frontiers of the Anglo-American world.
There were Jacobites among the pirates of the so-called Golden Age, a theme that is brought wonderfully to life in Capstan Shanty by Ye Banished Privateers.
Johnnie left his home
As a rebel he was known
A carpenter by trade
But a Jacobite by name…
The phrase “Jacobite by name” itself comes from the lyric of an anti-Jacobite folk song dating back to the era of the various Risings of the 17th and 18th Centuries.
deuce says
REH was an avowed Jacobite.
I hope you and yours have a fine Hogmanay, Jim!
JimC says
And to you as well Deuce. As usual, you are close on the track with FP — forthcoming post on Hogmanay.