| After the revolution in 1688, when Prince and
Princess of Orange were given the British crown, supporters of the Stuart
family staged five rebellions -- in an attempt to restore the throne to
the Stuart family. They believed that God had declared their family
the true rulers of Britain and that Parliament had no right to give the
throne to another family. In fact, they believe the right to govern
England was given them by God and that Parliament has nothing to do with
it.
The Stuart family has many supporters today in
Scotland. They have maintained their own record of true succession to the
throne. Duke Francis of Bavaria is considered the true heir
today.
One of the most beautiful homes in Scotland,
Traquair House, has closed its front gates which are adorned with stone
lions, and will not open them until a true heir of the Stuarts again
reigns on the Throne of England. All entrance is through the back
gate. The house has secret passages, and a maze. Traquair
house hid clergy who supported the Stuarts. The house is open for tourists
and the on-premises brewery is open for sales. You can also get lost
in the maze.
After the 5th and last rebellion, at Culloden, led
by Bonnie Prince Charlie, stories say that the surviving defeated
Jacobites and their families threw their wealth into Loch Ness (which is
not far from Culloden) to keep the victorious British army from taking
it. Prince Charlie escaped to France. Many of the other survivors
were executed.
Another treasure from the Jacobite rebellion is its
enduring songs, such as The Bonnie Bonnie Banks of Loch Lomond. |
