Battle of Culloden 279 years ago

[Troglodyte]

279 years ago, the Battle of Culloden, which led to the laws against many facets of Scottish highland culture, including the wearing of tartan clothing, for most people. Perhaps the exception made for members of the British kilted regiments is the main reason we still have the Scottish kilt.

We should remember that there were more Scots who were against the Jacobite cause than were for it, and much of the Jacobite support (potentially more, by some estimates) came from England and Wales, as well as Ireland. The Scots themselves contributed to much of what came about, post-Culloden.

The ban on Highland dress was restricted to Scotland only, but Highland dress and tartan had become symbols of Jacobitism and representative of Bonny Prince Charlie's army so to include it in the measures taken to supress rebellion and pacification is understandable. The restrictions affected only men and boys, and women and girls were still free to sport tartan shawls and veils as they had always done - even in the Lowland towns and the capital, Edinburgh.

Similar measures have been taken since, and we have seen political colours being banned in different places in our current time.

We need to remember, also, that the Scottish-elected members of parliament sitting at Westminster and representing Scottish constituencies were jointly (if not mostly) responsible for internal affairs at the time of the '45 rising, and so co-operated with the United Kingdom's policies in the pacification programme. Much of what was done in Scotland was with home-grown Scottish approval and desire - despite what might now be thought of it.

Interestingly, it has been documented that consumer interest and demand for tartan rose following the the 'ban', with a significant rise in sales amongst the North American and West Indian colonials - which is partly why remnants of tartans from this era that are to be found in these places are now so valuable to tartan historians today - ie, examples of genuine 'Jacobite Era' tartans as opposed to Highland Revival creations.

The raising of kilted Highland regiments was a necessity of the time, and proved remarkably popular - but they were Scottish, with Scottish (mainly Highland) recruits, and with a home base in Scotland. Having them clothed, armed and allowed to fight in Highland style shows just how highly regarded by the government they were, when on-side. They formed part of the British army, it is true, but in just the same way that English, Welsh and Irish regiments did, and still do. All serve the Crown, not the government.

Apart from the civilian disarming and restrictions on Highland clothing (essentially because they were so conducive to reiving, and so had allowed the Highlanders to cover distances quickly and easily) I cannot think of any other laws which acted as a ban on Highland or, more widely, Scottish culture as you suggest. Perhaps the most profound effects had been seen 140 years earlier, when James VI had gone to London to take the English crown and create the United Kingdom.

James, as the king of Scotland and now of England too, had declared that from his accession, all inhabitants of both kingdoms would no longer be enemies, that all would be equal and enjoy the same rights in each other's countries, with freedom of movement, and that Scotland and England would heceforth be known as North Britain and South Britain respectively. We all know how successful that last bit has been.

The population of England has always been around four fifths of the UK total, so a degree of majority rule where Scotland and the others are concerned is to be expected, and is reasonable in a democracy. However, the English argue that Scots enjoy significantly more than their fair share of ten per cent when it comes to government and policy-making.

It is easy to get swept up in the romanticism of lost causes, especially when they have dashing, young poster-boys like 'darling' Charles Edward Stuart, but careful attention must be paid to the facts to prevent myth becoming the reality. Particularly with Highland dress where so much myth and nonsense has been, and still is being created.