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Welcome back to This Day in Scottish History. I'm your host, Colin MacDonald. Today, we turn the pages back to May 10th, 1719, to a dramatic and fiery episode in the rugged northwest Highlands, where one of Scotland’s most iconic castles, Eilean Donan, faced the might of the British Royal Navy—and was left in ruins. It’s a story that blends rebellion, international intrigue, and the clash of empires. And if you’re curious about more riveting tales from Scotland’s past, check out my blog at bagtownclans.com/thisday. The link will be in the description!

To understand what happened that day, we need to first take a step back into the context of early 18th-century Britain. The Jacobite risings—efforts to restore the exiled Stuart monarchy to the thrones of Scotland and England—had already shaken the realm. The Glorious Revolution of 1688 had ousted James II in favour of William of Orange, but many in Scotland, particularly in the Highlands, remained loyal to the Stuarts. These Jacobites saw the Hanoverian kings as usurpers and longed for the return of James Francis Edward Stuart, known as the “Old Pretender.”

By 1719, Europe was once again a chessboard of shifting alliances. Spain, then ruled by the Bourbon Philip V, was seeking to reassert its influence and saw in the Jacobite cause a useful tool to destabilize Britain. The Spanish agreed to support a Jacobite uprising in the Highlands as part of a larger strategy to distract the British while they pursued their ambitions elsewhere on the continent.

And so, in April 1719, a small Spanish expeditionary force—around 300 soldiers—landed on the west coast of Scotland near Loch Duich. They took up residence in Eilean Donan Castle, a medieval fortress perched on a rocky islet where three lochs meet. It was an ideal base: remote, defensible, and deeply symbolic. From here, they planned to support a larger Jacobite force assembling nearby, led by George Keith and William Murray, who hoped to march on Inverness.

But the British government was well aware of the unfolding plot. Royal Navy ships were dispatched to the west coast to intercept the Spaniards and prevent the rising from taking root. On May 10th, three warships—HMS Worcester, HMS Flamborough, and HMS Enterprise—anchored off Eilean Donan. What followed was a furious bombardment.

The Spanish garrison, though disciplined, was heavily outgunned. The castle’s old stone walls, built for medieval sieges, were no match for 18th-century naval artillery. Cannonballs smashed into the thick masonry, and smoke filled the Highland air. After several hours of shelling, the navy sent a landing party ashore. They stormed the castle, overwhelmed the defenders, and captured the fort.

Inside, they found a stockpile of gunpowder—an explosive opportunity. Rather than occupy the fortress, the Royal Navy decided to make an example of it. They placed barrels of powder within the structure and lit the fuses. The resulting explosion tore through the ancient walls. Eilean Donan Castle, a sentinel of the western Highlands for over 500 years, was reduced to rubble.

The destruction of Eilean Donan was a devastating symbolic blow to the Jacobites and their Spanish allies. Without their stronghold, the rebellion floundered. The Battle of Glen Shiel followed in June, where the remaining Jacobite and Spanish forces were decisively defeated by government troops. The Spanish survivors were taken prisoner and later repatriated. The 1719 rising was over almost before it began.

For nearly two centuries, Eilean Donan lay in ruins, its crumbled walls a silent witness to that failed dream of Stuart restoration. It wasn't until the early 20th century that the castle was painstakingly rebuilt by Lieutenant Colonel John MacRae-Gilstrap, whose vision and dedication restored it to its former glory. Today, Eilean Donan stands not only as one of Scotland’s most photographed landmarks but as a reminder of a time when dynasties, empires, and Highland clans clashed for the fate of a kingdom.

The events of May 10th, 1719, might have slipped into obscurity, overshadowed by larger battles and more dramatic rebellions. But the destruction of Eilean Donan was a powerful turning point—a moment when global politics, local loyalties, and maritime power collided on the rugged coast of Scotland.

Thank you for joining me today on This Day in Scottish History. If you enjoyed this tale of cannon fire and castle walls, don’t forget to explore more stories at bagtownclans.com/thisday. I’ll be back tomorrow with another glimpse into the fierce, proud, and fascinating history of Scotland. Until then, I’m Colin MacDonald—Haste Ye Back!

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