Montrose: For covenant and king

Poet, soldier, Royalist, Covenanter - some of the many faces of James Graham, Marquess of Montrose. One of the most famous and dashing figures in Scottish history, his heroic struggle in the face of hopeless odds still excites the imagination. For three years, Montrose was in vanguard of the fight against papistry and Stuart despotism. Yet, during this time, extremists among the Covenanters became ever more influential and Montrose, sickened by their excesses, defected to the king. Under Charles, he enjoyed one glorious year of dazzling victories, routing the rebels in battles at Inverlochy, Auldearn, Alford and Kilsyth. But his dramatic success was short-lived. In quick succession he was defeated, exiled and finally betrayed to the Covenanters during his final campaign. He was hanged in May 1650, yet the victorious legend that he was soon to become lives on as one of the most astonishing military episodes in British history. This biography shows the complexity of the man behind the myth and, using much-neglected material, gives a full picture of the influence and impact Montrose had upon the complicated politics surrounding the English Civil War and the final collapse of the Royalist cause.