Culloden

Culloden refers to a plain on the edge of Inverness in the Scottish Highlands, best known as the site of the Battle of Culloden in 1746. It was the final pitched battle of the Jacobite rising of 1745 and is often described as the last major military confrontation on British soil. The Jacobite army, led by Charles Edward Stuart, faced a government force commanded by Lt. General Prince William, Duke of Cumberland.

Estimates of forces vary, but the Jacobites are usually cited as about 5,000–7,000 strong, with government troops numbering roughly 8,000–9,000. The battle, fought on 16 April 1746, ended in a decisive government victory. Jacobite casualties were heavy, with around 1,500 killed and many more wounded; government losses were comparatively lighter.

In the aftermath, the rebellion collapsed and the government implemented measures aimed at dismantling the Highland way of life, including the Dress Act of 1746, which prohibited Highland dress and sought to break clan power structures.

Today, Culloden Moor is a protected historic landscape. The site includes the Culloden Battlefield Visitor Centre, which provides exhibitions and interpretation of the events, and is managed in partnership with the National Trust for Scotland. The battlefield and surrounding moorland remain a focus for research and commemoration, attracting visitors who seek to understand 18th-century conflict and Scottish history. The name Culloden also designates the nearby village of Culloden, part of the Inverness area.