The Massacre of Glencoe (1972)

In 1689, after acquiring the English, Scottish and Irish crowns, King William the 3rd, a Protestant Dutchman, is faced with a strong opposition from the Scottish clans. The clans, united during the Jacobite uprising of 1689, are debating whether to accept William as their new king or honor their oath previously given to the ousted Catholic King James the 2nd who lived in French exile. Some clan chiefs argue they should remain loyal to ousted King James while others argue they should recognize the new English sovereign. In arguing the case for accepting the new monarch, some of the clan chiefs acknowledge the reality of having lost the military initiative during the latest Jacobite rebellion and being too weak to oppose the numerous English armies of King William. They understand that ousted King James is far-away, in French exile, and penniless, most likely unable to raise an army, while King William is already firmly entrenched on the English throne. So, after debating and taking a vote, the clan chiefs decide to support the new monarch, with the honorable condition that exiled King James allows them to do so. Therefore, the clan chiefs send a messenger to France, to seek ex-King's James blessing in allowing the Scottish clans to change their oaths of allegiance to the new monarch. But King William is no fool and he doesn't trust the Scots who are Catholic, like the French, the arch-enemy of Protestant England. Besides, King William cannot forget the trouble the Scots gave him during the latest Jacobite rebellion. William and his court view the Scots as primitive trouble-makers who must be taught a lesson. Therefore, King William gives the clans a strict deadline by which the clans must swear an oath to him or else face war. In 1691, William offers all Highland clans a pardon for their part in the Jacobite uprising, as long as they take an oath of allegiance before January 1st, 1692 in front of a magistrate. After receiving word from exiled King James from France who allows them to submit to the new English monarch, all clans submit, except the Clan MacDonald of Glencoe. The MacDonald clan chief has hesitated and thus he has missed the deadline. When he finally decides to offer his clan's oath to the English monarch, it's too late. An incensed English King William decides to instruct his military forces in Scotland to march into the MacDonald clan's area, under a peaceful false pretext, and teach the MacDonald's a lesson.