In 1745, on this day with the City of London occupied by the Jacobite army of Bonnie Prince Charlie (pictured) the Houses of Parliament conceded and voted to reinstate the House of Stuart and oust George II; later that year the "Old Pretender" would be crowned King James III, ruling ineffectually until his death in 1766.
This article is part of the Glorious 45 thread.

Glorious Forty-Five #1
By Ed, Scott Palter, Jared Myers & Jeff ProvineThe end of the Whig Hegemony would finally bring political rights to the Scottish and Irish, celtic nations who had been facing an uncertain long-term future of direct rule from Westminister. Even if the Hanoverians were foreigners themselves, their continued presence nurtured a three-Kingdoms-in-one-Kingdom scenario that would have been distinctly English in flavour, and nakedly colonial in nature. Had the "Forty-Five" failed, then surely the English vengeance would have been dreadful for the supporters of the Jacobite rebels.

If the intended purpose of French support was merely to weaken their greatest rival, then the consequences of the overthrow of the House of Hanover would be truly in global in scope. A new triple alliance would emerge in which France, Britain and Spain would dominate the world's oceans. And the Dutch, who had rejoiced when William of Orange was placed on the English throne, would feel the backlash the most as their Empire would be divided amongst the unmatchable strength of the allied powers. The Glorious 45 thread continues in Part 2.

In 1766, on this day the "Old Pretender" James Francis Edward Stuart died at the St James's Palace aged seventy-seven. His Majesty's demise was just three months short of an ineffectual twenty year reign that followed the restoration of the House of Stuart.
This article is part of the Glorious 45 thread.

Glorious Forty-Five #2
By Ed, Scott Palter & Jared MyersHis contributory role in the ending of the hated foreign rule of the Hanovers was a surface conversion to the Anglican Faith. But of course his Majesty wasn't even present at the decisive moment in the Jacobite Uprising, a Council of War held on 5th December, 1745. Against the near unanimous advise of his commanders including such men as Lord George Murray, his son Bonnie Prince Charlie crossed Swarkestone Bridge and ordered the Jacobite Rebel Army to march on Oxford.

Even before his brilliant reign as Charles III, he and his father would nurture the new generation of bold commanders that would suppress the American revolt. But of course the rise of the British land army would have profound consquences much closer to home.

At first French assistance for the Stuart restoration was little more than a half-hearted and rather clumsy attempt to throw a spanner in their enemie's works. But due to the stunning success of Bonnie Prince Charles (albeit balanced with the shock of the Anglican conversion) Paris was willing to form a world-beating Triple Alliance with the Spanish that would end Dutch overseas ambitions. Overconfident in the status quo, the Bourbons also move to embrace Prussia ensuring that after 1766, Charles of England and Frederick of Prussia would tower over the other rulers of Europe like colossi. But by the turn of the century, French belligerence had returned in full force, and with the Rise of Napoleon, the continent of Europe would be confronted by a titanic clash of three great powers.
The "Glorious 45" thread continues in Part 3

In 1769, on this day Napoleon was born in his family's ancestral home Casa Buonaparte on the island of Corsica which had been ceded to France by the Republic of Genoa only twelve months before. This article is part of the Glorious 45 thread.

Glorious Forty-Five #3
By Ed, Scott Palter & Jared MyersHe was admitted to the elite École Militaire in Paris becoming the first Corsican ever to graduate from that prestigous College. But as a barely noble Corsican, his prodigous talents were severly restricted by a firm ceiling on his French promotion prospects and in despair of ever seeing General he signed on with John Company.

That "brave authority" in India was more willing (or desperate) to recruit non-indigenous officers. He scored another first, eventually becoming the first ever non-British General.

Back in France, the Bourbons had made even worse mistakes than losing the talents of Napoelon, they had lived to desperately regret their support of the House of Stuart and their equally unwise encouragement of Prussia. Because King Charles III of England and Frederick of Prussia now towered over the other rulers of Europe like colossi, and war (and defeat) was almost inevitable.

With the unashamed expediency that only the desperate can muster, French representatives were secretly dispatched to India, with the hope that Napoleon would could be tempted to return to lead a Grand Armée that would stamp French authority and re-establish Bourbon hegemony over the continent. Whether the Bourbons were foolishly naive to think that Napoleon's ambitions would stop at General was another matter.

He returned to France by fast frigate just in time to save Paris from a Hapsburgh army under the Archduke Charles. Having deservedly earned the sobriquet of "Bourbon Saviour" he was offered the hand in marriage of an unknown daughter (an illegitimate grand daughter of Louis XV)if he would save the realm. To be continued in Part 4, suggestions very welcome!