The Jacobite Rebellion of 1719 : Revenge and Regrets

Abstract

The Jacobite Rebellion of 1719 was an ambitious failed attempt by Spain and the Jacobites to restore the exiled Stuart king James III to the British throne. Because of its failure, the 1719 rebellion has received little attention from scholars. This thesis examines the Jacobite Rebellion of 1719 and the roles that Spain and the Jacobites had during this rebellion and creates a full narrative of the planning and execution of the rebellion. In examining these roles this thesis traces the origins of the rebellion, determines fault for the rebellion's failure, and for the first time reconstructs the weather that played a pivotal role in the failure of the rebellion. This thesis argues that the 1719 rebellion was in fact a significant Jacobite rebellion that could have potentially shifted the balance of power in Europe during the early eighteenth century had it not been for the intervention of the weather.