No visitor to the Scottish Highlands can escape the Jacobite Risings of 1689-1746. From the Pass of Glencoe to Culloden Moor, the conflict’s ghosts still hang heavy in the air, while, from west coast to east, an extraordinary network of government-built roads and fortresses provides a more solid reminder of the rebel challenge.
But who were the Jacobites? And how close did they really come to changing British history? In our cover story, Graham Goodlad begins a fascinating new series, first by looking at the origins of the movement and its abortive early attempts to bring back England’s exiled Catholic king James II (James VII of Scotland); and then by considering the opposing government and Jacobite armies, to understand how evenly matched they were.
Elsewhere, in the first part of another new series, Taylor Downing begins his exploration of Cold War flashpoints by revealing how conflict in Korea threatened the outbreak of World War III; while Iain MacGregor, the bestselling author of The Lighthouse of Stalingrad and The Hiroshima Men, makes a welcome return to the magazine by uncovering the key elements of victory down the ages, from Marathon to Midway.
Also in this issue, to mark the 60th anniversary of Albert Speer’s release from Spandau prison, Nigel Jones examines the role of Hitler’s favourite architect in the atrocities of the Nazi regime; while Patrick Mercer travels to the Indian subcontinent in search of Major-General Sir Robert ‘Fighting Bob’ Sale and his wife Lady Florentia, the intrepid married couple whose adventures made them a byword for gritty colonial glamour.
And, finally, it’s that time of the year again: the ballots have been cast, you have had your say, and we are very pleased once again to announce (on p.55) the winners of the coveted Gold, Silver, and Bronze prizes in the Military History Matters Book Awards 2026.