Charles Edward Stuart, commonly known as Bonnie Prince Charlie, was born in Rome, Italy on December 31, 1720. He was the grandson of the exiled King James II of England and VII of Scotland, and the son of James Francis Edward Stuart, the 'Old Pretender'. Bonnie Prince Charlie is best known for his role in the Jacobite uprising of 1745, where he attempted to claim the British throne in the name of his father.

Bonnie Prince Charlie's birth in Italy is often a point of confusion for many, as he is most closely associated with Scotland and the Jacobite cause. However, his Italian birth was a result of his family's exile following the Glorious Revolution of 1688, which saw the Protestant William of Orange take the British throne from his Catholic grandfather.

Despite being born in Italy, Bonnie Prince Charlie spent much of his life in France, where he was actively involved in Jacobite plots to overthrow the Hanoverian monarchy in Britain. In 1745, he landed in Scotland and raised an army of Highland clansmen in a bid to seize the throne. The uprising initially met with some success, most notably the victory at the Battle of Prestonpans, but ultimately ended in defeat at the Battle of Culloden in 1746.

After the failed uprising, Bonnie Prince Charlie became a fugitive, narrowly escaping capture by government forces. He eventually made his way back to France, where he lived out the rest of his days in exile. He died in Rome in 1788, never having achieved his goal of restoring the Stuart monarchy to the British throne.

Today, Bonnie Prince Charlie is remembered as a romantic figure in Scottish history, with his story inspiring many works of literature and art. His birth in Italy serves as a reminder of the complex political and dynastic alliances that shaped European history in the 18th century.

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