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The battle of Culloden is one of the most iconic battles in the history of the British Isles. It is historically significant as the last pitched battle to be fought on the British mainland. It was also the last battle of the final Jacobite Rising that commenced in 1745 when Charles Edward Stuart (Bonnie Prince Charlie/The Young Pretender) Link , grandson of the exiled King James II, arrived in Scotland from France in July and raised his standard at Glenfinnan on 19 August. His aim was to put his father on the throne in place of the Hanoverian George II.

On 16 April 1746, the Jacobite army took up position on Drummossie Moor*; The Government army formed up around 700m to the east, positioned at a slight angle to the Jacobite line. The battle was a total and bloody defeat for the Jacobites which effectively brought to an end almost sixty years of the Jacobite struggle, as never again would an armed uprising be used in the attempt to return the Stuarts to the throne. The Government victory also paved the way for a sustained program to transform the Highlands, destroying the power base of the rebel clans, bringing to an end the traditional way of life of the area and contributing to the subsequent Clearances. The battle also holds a prominent place within the Scottish cultural legacy, frequently depicted and commemorated in art, music, literature and film. The battlefield site, which is maintained by the National Trust for Scotland, is one of the most visited tourist sites in the Highlands.

*Although fought on Drumossie Muir (moor), the battle name Culloden was adapted almost immediately, coming from the proximity of Culloden House ' the moor sitting within the wider lands of the Culloden estate.

More information:
Link Historic Environment Scotland
Link Wikipedia