Over the years there have been many letters to the Scotsman claiming that the Jacobite rebellion had no connection whatsoever to the struggle for Scottish independence. The facts are however that Charles Stuart and his followers fought under the Saltire while his opponents fought under the Union Jack.
Charlie is also remembered for uttering the memorable phrase "I hereby declare the union between Scotland and England dissolved."
We also know that the line about crushing "rebellious Scots" was added to the British National anthem shortly after the Jacobite rebellion and the same year
England's parliament suddenly decided that it now owned both Berwick and Wales!No doubt there were some who called themselves Scots who welcomed the actions of the British Army at Culloden and the butchery and oppression (wearing Tartan was banned for 36 years!) that followed their victory but then again we know that today there are still those who put their own country last.
That does not mean they can re-write history however. Yes, Charles Stuart was interested in his father's English throne as well as the Scots one but he was also determined to restore Scottish independence.
It was on that basis that our Gaelic ancesters followed him and it is why he retains an affectionate niche in Scots history. Charlie might have failed but at least he was on the 'right side'. That's more than the 'Scotsman' can say today!
