Edinburgh in Chaos

The Public Reaction to King James VII’s Fall

The fall of King James VII in 1688, as part of the Glorious Revolution, sent shockwaves across the British Isles. In Scotland, especially in the capital city of Edinburgh, the king’s deposition triggered an intense period of chaos, fear, and uncertainty. The city, already rife with political and religious tensions, became a hotspot of unrest as the old order crumbled and new power dynamics emerged. The public reaction to James VII’s fall was not just a political response; it reflected the deep divisions within Scottish society over monarchy, religion, and national identity. This post delves into the events that unfolded in Edinburgh following the fall of the Stuart king, revealing how the city became a battleground for competing loyalties and ideologies.