Sculpted with great attention to detail and authenticity, this chess set shows the two sides, English and Scottish and the most important characters of the era prior to the famous battle at Culloden in 1746.

The Battle of Culloden chess set, hand decorated in two principal colours, the chess pieces identify Bonnie Prince Charlie, leader of the Scottish clansmen, with faithful Flora McDonald as the Queen. Their English opponents are led by King George's son, the Duke of Cumberland.

The Story Behind The Battle of Culloden Chess Set

Just before noon on April 16, 1746 a dull, wet and misty day, the English Army led by the King’s son, the Duke of Cumberland, advanced towards Culloden Moor near Inverness in Scotland to do battle with an army of Scottish Highland clansmen, who supported Charles Edward Stuart, known as Bonnie Prince Charlie and who wished to re-establish the rule of the House of Stuart in Scotland and England.

Bonnie Prince Charlie landed in Western Scotland from exile in France with a handful of officers and persuaded many Highland Chiefs to join him against the English. Although many doubted his chances, he managed to raise an army of nearly 3000 men and surprisingly, he defeated the English at Prestonpans near Edinburgh. Within weeks, his rebellious forces had invaded England, capturing Carlisle and reaching as far south as Derby. His intention was to strike at London and claim the throne for his father, James Edward Stuart, known as the Old Pretender, son of King James II. Unfortunately, support from Louis XV, King of France, failed to materialise and the Prince was forced to withdraw to Scotland.

The English Army, led by the Duke of Cumberland, was in hot pursuit and a separate English force, commanded by General Henry Hawley, engaged the rebels at the Battle of Falkirk. In a short but fierce fight, the Prince’s forces were victorious and Hawley and the remains of his army fled to Edinburgh to be reunited with the main English Army under the Duke of Cumberland.

The English Army was well supplied from support vessels, but the rebels were short of food and equipment and morale was very low. The Prince’s Generals, Lord George Murray and the Duke of Perth, gave him conflicting advice, although they both favoured withdrawal into the Highlands to engage in skirmishes rather than a major pitched battle. However, Bonnie Prince Charlie was convinced that the Scots could beat the English in battle and thus the scene was set for Culloden.

Fewer than 5000 rebels were mustered for the Prince’s Army to fight Cumberland’s Army of 6400 foot soldiers and 2400 cavalry. The outcome of a particularly bloody battle was victory for the English and a loss of 2500 rebel lives. 1800 Scots were taken prisoner.

Bonnie Prince Charlie and the Duke of Perth escaped and the Prince spent the next five months in hiding. Flora McDonald assisted in his escape by disguising him as her maid and he was eventually smuggled aboard a French vessel to sail to exile in France.

Following the slaughter at Culloden, the English determined to destroy the rebels, known as Jacobites and their supporters forever, Jacobite prisoners were either shot, neglected to the point of starvation or sold as slaves to the American Plantations. Clan Chiefs were stripped of their authority and the wearing of tartans and kilts, the playing of bagpipes and the owning of weapons were all forbidden on pain of death. These and other measures finally snuffed out the Jacobite cause.

The pieces in our chess set are sculpted in great detail and have many authentic features. The historic characters they represent are shown below:

English King

George II
(1683-1760). King of England.

English Queen

Caroline of Ansbach
Married George II in 1705 and became Queen Caroline when George succeeded to the throne in 1727.

English Bishop

William Augustus (1721-1765)
Duke of Cumberland, the second son of George II who commanded the English Army in several campaigns. Nicknamed 'Butcher Cumberland' for the manner in which he crushed the Jacobite rising in 1745.

English Knight

General Henry Hawley
A veteran officer, in his mid sixties at the time of Culloden. A strict disciplinarian, he was nicknamed 'Hangman Hawley' due to his habit of erecting gallows wherever he campaigned as a sign to his soldiers that military discipline would be strictly observed.

English Rook

In the style of the monument showing the crown and soldiers in relief.

English Pawn

Grenadier
Typical foot soldier, grenadier from the Royal Regiment.

Jacobite Rebel King

Charles Edward Stuart
(1720-1788) English Prince known as Bonnie Prince Charlie or the 'Young Pretender'.

Jacobite Queen

Flora McDonald
(1722-1790). Daughter of a Hebridean farmer who helped Bonnie Prince Charlie to escape to the Isle of Skye after his defeat at Culloden. For this, she was imprisoned in the Tower of London for 1 year.

Jacobite Bishop

Lord George Murray
Lieutenant General of the Jacobite army, tough, energetic and well versed in military tactics, having made the Army his career.

Jacobite Knight

James Drummond
Duke of Perth (1710-1746). A devoted and loyal supporter of the house of Stuart. Appointed by Bonnie Prince Charlie as joint commander of the Jacobite Army with Lord George Murray. He died aboard ship and was buried at sea whilst fleeing after culloden.

Jacobite Rook

In the style of a monument crowned with the Scottish Thistle and depicting pipers, drummers and clansmen in relief.

French Pawn

Highland Clansmen
Typical clansmen with fighting sword and target (shield).