As part of their coverage of the lead up to yesterday’s Service of Thanksgiving and Presentation of the Honours of Scotland in Edinburgh the Daily Mail had a study in counter factual history. This looked at what might well have happened if Prince Charles Edward - the “other” King Charles III - had been successful in 1745-6.
I am usually somewhat wary of placing too much reliance on counter factual models of what might have happened in the past. As an investigation of the possibilities facing people at significant points centuries, or decades, ago they can help us understand motives and aims, hopes and fears. As illustrations of what could have resulted had things turned out differently they can yield insight. Beyond that counter factuals can become a mental game with oneself that generates little useful.
The Daily Mail article is definitely in the first category and offers a serious set of possible consequences - though those all hinge on nothing else changing independently to further amend the historical record.
It draws upon the work of two distinguished scholars of the period in Murray Pittock and Daniel Szechi, and offers some remarkable possibilities that could have ensued from a Jacobite victory and restoration. It can be read at What would have happened to the UK if Bonnie Prince Charlie had WON?
If the speculation is accurate the people of these islands would have had a closer affinity with those across the English Channel and we would have been spared Brexit.
ReplyDeleteI couldn’t possibly comment …
ReplyDeleteI Remain…
John