The term 'Jacobite' is the name given to those who supported James VII after his deposition in 1689. When Charles Edward Stewart, James VII's grandson, died in 1701, his son James Francis Stewart (the 'Old Pretender') became the legitimate Scottish heir (James VIII) in the eyes of the Jacobites. James planned to gain Scottish support by portraying Jacobites as the true Scottish nationalists. His plan was to recruit support and eventually rule both Scotland and England.

The Jacobites got word that General Hugh MacKay would be moving his troops from Stirling to Blair Castle, and the Battle of Killiecrankie in 1689 was the Scottish response. The Jacobite leader was Viscount Dundee, who was called “Bonnie Dundee” by his supporters and “Bloody Clavers” by the Covenanters. The Jacobites moved ahead of MacKay’s troops, stationing themselves high on the cliffs of Killiekrankie Pass. Dundee's troops did nothing as the Williamites charged cannon fire uphill into the Jacobites. Then, after three hours, Dundee's army charged with single shot rifles and broadswords. The casualties among the 4,000 Williamites and the 2,500 Jacobites were heavy, but the Jacobites left victors of the battle.