Find a castle in Scotland It really doesn't have much merit. His slogan of him; "the country of a thousand castles" has its reason for being. Although this one in particular, the Menzies castle, is neither by far one of the most visited, nor one of the most spectacular. But instead his stories are really very particular.
View of the castle in 2009
The castle was built on the ruins of a previous one, by the Menzies Clan in the 16th century. Its style is unmistakable, since it is the classic architectural style of the Scottish Highlands. Inhabited from the beginning by said Clan, it will have the honor of receiving famous and peculiar characters during its history, as well as being a witness to British history.
The Jacobite Risings.
First of all it is necessary to know who the Jacobites were. Its history begins in the year 1688, during the so-called Glorious Revolution. After which the King of England James II was dismissed, to be replaced by the favorite of the British Parliament. Specifically, I am talking about the Dutch Protestant prince, William of Orange, crowned William III.
James II descended from the line of the Scottish Stuarts, therefore, declared defenders of Catholicism in the British Isles. After being dismissed, the need will arise among Catholics to organize themselves to fight. The reason, to restore the presence of a Catholic in the crown of England. The name Jacobites is evidently taken from the last deposed king.
Jacobite Monument in Glenfinnan
The Jacobites were organized in the Scottish Highlands, but they also had the support of their Irish neighbor. Without forgetting the economic aid from other European countries such as Spain, to give a close example. It never really amounted to a war. For many years they dedicated themselves to what we could call "guerrilla warfare", with continuous sabotage and small battles. And really there were three firm uprisings, the first in 1715, the second in 1719 and the one that concerns us in history in 1745.
Carlos Eduardo Estuardo.
We are already facing a grandson of James II, by the way, the last Jacobite to claim the throne of England. In addition, for this uprising he had the help of the eternal enemy of the British, the French King Louis XV. With an army made up of the great clans of Scotland, he took Edinburgh, and subsequently arrived in Glasgow on Christmas Day 1745. During this journey he will use Menzies Castle as a base of operations.
The Battle of Culluden, according to David Morier
That will be the moment when the Jacobites are closest to fulfilling their mission, since their joy will not last long. Given that at the Battle of Culloden on April 16, 1746, the English army will crush the last Jacobite uprising, forcing the young prince to leave the British Isles forever.
Next we take a leap in time, specifically a century later.
Living like a maharaja.
A very repeated phrase when we talk about someone who lives in great detail. Now, the origin of it is thousands of kilometers away from our protagonist, the Menzies Castle. Specifically in India, dominated since the 17th century by the British East India Company. In order to exploit its natural resources. This will be used by the so-called maharajas or princes of India to accumulate all kinds of wealth.
Their main dedication to him was ostentation and luxury, they lived in extraordinary mansions. They also had an obsession with necklaces, bracelets, chokers and ultimately all kinds of jewelry. Also highlight a tradition that they picked up from the Mongols, specifically the turbans with all kinds of ornaments. Finally, to highlight a curious custom, the maharajas had to be received in the capital Delhi with a salvo of 21 guns. At least the most important ones.
Dalip Singh the Maharaja of Menzies Castle.
Dalip Singh aged 15 shortly before his arrival in Scotland
Our character in question was born in Lahore, what today would be the Punjab of Pakistan, although in the year 1843, when Dalip Singh was born, he belonged to one of the 565 princely states of India, specifically the Sikh Empire. When he was only six years old he was appointed Maharaja of said Empire, and two years later he started the war against the British Empire. The result was the conquest of England from the Sikh Empire. Then our character, and only 12 years old, receives a succulent life pension in consideration for the lost territories.
Drawing of the castle in 1829, made by John Preston.
The first thing he did was convert to Catholicism and then emigrate to the UK. Consequently the best place to go would be Scotland, for which between 1855 and 1858 he would be the inhabitant of Menzies Castle. He did not return to India again, except in 1861 in search of his mother, after which he lived the rest of his life in Europe as a true maharaja.
Menzies Castle in the 20th century.
After his last illustrious character, the castle will begin a continuous decline, even during the Great War it was used as an army stable. It's easy to imagine what it would have looked like in 1957, when it was bought back by the Clan of the Menzies for £300.
Typical Scottish wedding.
From that moment on, a Castle Protection Society was formed in the Menzies family. Restoration work began in 1971 and it was reopened to the public in 1997. It can therefore be visited, but only in summer. On the other hand, it can be rented for weddings, banquets or similar events for the "low" price of 3,475 pounds plus 20% VAT, around €5,000. Despite which you can not spend the night in this Scottish castle , since he is not ready for it.
Images:commons.wikimedia