Argyll's Rising

Argyll's Rising
The capture of Argyll, in disguise as a countryman, on 18 June, from a commemorative set of cards
Date May – June 1685 Location Scotland Result Victory for James II
Belligerents
Royal army of James II Scottish militias	Rebel army under nominal command of Earl of Argyll Supporters of Duke of Monmouth
Commanders and leaders
John Murray, 1st Marquess of Atholl, George Douglas, 1st Earl of Dumbarton	Archibald Campbell, 9th Earl of Argyll, Sir Patrick Hume, Sir John Cochrane, Sir Duncan Campbell, 4th Baronet of Auchinbreck, Richard Rumbold, John Ayloffe
Strength
3,000 regulars c.7,000 militia	2,500-2,800
Casualties and losses
few	Small number of battlefield casualties 23 executed c.300 transported

Argyll's Rising or Argyll's Rebellion was a 1685 attempt by a group of largely Scottish exiles, led by Archibald Campbell, 9th Earl of Argyll, to overthrow King James II and VII. It took place shortly before and in support of the Monmouth Rebellion, led by James Scott, 1st Duke of Monmouth. Argyll's Rising was intended to tie down Royal forces in Scotland while Monmouth's army marched on London. Both rebellions were backed by Protestants opposed to the kingship of James, a Roman Catholic.

Argyll, the chief of Clan Campbell, had hoped to raise several thousand men amongst his followers, while it was expected that many Presbyterians in southern Scotland would join the rebels. Argyll sailed from Holland on 2 May with around 300 men, but on landing in Scotland attracted relatively few volunteers. Hampered by Argyll's inexperience as a commander, disagreements amongst the other leaders, and by an opposing force under the Marquess of Atholl, the rebels began to disperse in mid June after an abortive invasion of Lowland Scotland. Most of their leaders were captured, including Argyll, who was executed on 30 June.

South-western Scotland had been in a state of unrest since the late 1670s, with the more militant Presbyterian faction, the Covenanters, openly disobeying the authority of Charles II, who continued to attempt to impose episcopacy on the country. The resulting disorder, known by Covenanters as "The Killing Time", resulted in many extrajudicial executions as Royal troops tried to enforce the King's authority.

In the interim a group of Protestant exiles opposed to the Stuart regime had gathered in Holland. These included Whigs involved in the Rye House Plot, supporters of Monmouth, and republican radicals. One of the most prominent figures amongst this disparate group was the Earl of Argyll, once a staunch Royalist but who had fled Scotland in 1681 after being condemned on a dubious treason charge. Others included the moderate Whig George Melville, Lord Melville, Covenanter supporter Sir Patrick Hume, Sir John Cochrane of Ochiltree, and the former Cromwellian soldier Richard Rumbold, who had been a prime mover behind the Rye House plot. Argyll had also been implicated in the Plot when coded letters from him to key conspirators were discovered.

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