The Battle of Prestonpans was fought - On this day in Scottish history

The battle which began at 4am on 21 September at Prestonpans, on the outskirts of Edinburgh, involved roughly equal troop numbers of 2,500 on each side - with troops loyal to Hanoverian King George II pitched against the Jacobite forces of Prince Charles Edward Stuart (Bonnie Prince Charlie).

The prince had earlier raised an original group of ten supporters which, on a march to Edinburgh, rose to over 2,500 men. The inexperienced government forces under Sir John Cope buckled under an early morning charge from an initial group of fierce Highlanders, causing them to panic and flee.

The victory proved a huge morale boost to the Stuart cause and became the quickly became the stuff of legend and stories.

(Image copyright Renata Edge)