(Killiecrankie)

Following the death of his brother Charles II in 1685, James VII of Scotland became king. Both had been Catholic, but Charles had not publically acknowledged his faith, while James had. Also, James II wife was an Italian Catholic. Efforts were made by the protestant majority to prevent a Catholic from gaining the throne. Once in power, James began to fulfill protestant fears. He repealed the Test Act that prohibited Catholics from holding academic and political positions, and issued the Declaration of Indulgence allowing Catholics to worship in public. The Scottish parliament was against complete religious tolerance. Following the birth of a son in 1688, Catholic succession was more certain. William of Orange, a Dutch prince was invited to take the throne by England's Protestant leaders. King James fled the country on 23 December, and, in February 1689, the English Parliament declared that, by fleeing, James had abdicated. Parliament then offered the throne jointly to William and Mary. A convention held on 14 March 1689 in Edinburgh decided that the Scottish government would pledge loyalty to William of Orange. The revolution was bloodless but the battle over who was the rightful king did not remain bloodless. …show more content…
On 27 July 1689 the peace and tranquility of this beautiful gorge was shattered when the first shots in the Jacobite cause were fired. Blair Castle was in a key position that controlled access to the Lowlands. It was owned by the Marquis of Atholl was fought between Highland Scottish clans supporting King James VII of Scotland (also known as James II of England) and troops supporting King William of