Summary
- Outlander's historical accuracy shines in realistic castle settings, accurate battles, and the inspiration for Jamie Fraser from a real soldier.
- The show's attention to detail includes accurate costumes, period-appropriate women's roles, superstitions, and healing practices.
- Some creative choices, like unrealistic witch trials, inaccurate tartan colors, and exaggerated characterizations, stray from historical accuracy.
Outlander offers fiction based on historical events, but the Outlander historical accuracy isn't always right. The show gives fans romance as the main draw, but it also has action, drama, incredible acting and writing, and much more. The best part is that Outlander's historical accuracy remains strong despite being considered fantasy/historical fiction. However, because it is a fictional show, certain things are not historically accurate. These moments are hard to miss, making viewers wonder if it was a purposeful mistake for creative purposes or if the show dropped the ball.
Starz releases the second half of 's final eighth season at the end of 2024, and it brings a level of excitement for fans of the time-travel historical fantasy, as well as a sense of remorse that the end is near. Throughout the series, Outlander's historical accuracy helped educate fans about the past while entertaining them with high battles and intense romance. However, at the same time, those fans who know a bit about the past often point out the moments where the show veers away from historical accuracy and becomes mostly fictional in its re-telling of the wars and battles of the time.
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Things In Outlander That Are Historically Accurate
The Castles Are Real Castles
The castles shown in Outlander are not CGI creations, miniatures, or built stages, and they are also not creations in Hollywood or other shooting locations. These are real-life castles with a great history of their own. Castle Leoch is a prominent castle shown throughout the series as the home to Jamie's Uncle, Colum Mackenzie, and his clan.
The medieval castle is actually known as Doune Castle in Perthshire and was built in the late 14th century by Robert Stewart, the Duke of Albany. Another notable castle from the show is Blackness Castle, but fans of Outlander know it better as the infamous Fort William.
This castle was the setting for Black Jack Randall's main headquarters in the series. In real life, Blackness Castle is an ex-artillery fortress and a 15th-century marvel of a castle built for the Crichtons, one of Scotland's most powerful families.
The Battle Of Culloden Really Happened
The Battle of Culloden was a pivotal point in the series and in history. Bonnie Prince Charlie led the Jacobites into the infamous battle, which ended many Scots' lives that day. The battle took place on April 16, 1746, and ended with the British government force commanded by the Duke of Cumberland soundly defeating it. The Battle of Culloden lasted less than an hour and ended the 1745 uprising on the spot.
The way Outlander portrayed the Battle of Culloden was historically accurate, aside from the fictional characters participating in the war. It was a bloody fight that the Jacobites quickly lost. The clans forever changed after this battle and never returned to how they were before the war. Much like the show, no one ever heard from the Bonnie Prince again once he fled.
There Actually Was A Fraser Soldier Who Survived The Battle Of Culloden
Not all Outlander fans might be aware of it, but Jamie Fraser's character was loosely based on a real-life Jacobite soldier who survived the Battle Of Culloden. Author Diana Gabaldon (via National Geographic) said she developed him after reading the book Prince in the Heather by Eric Linklater.
That book describes an where "19 wounded Jacobites hid in a farmhouse after the battle." They were all executed after two days under the command of the Red Coats. One man survived the slaughter, "a Fraser of the Master of Lovat's regiment, who survived the slaughter." Gabaldon said that she chose the name "Jamie" based on a Dr. Who character who caused her to use Scotland as a setting. She then said that since a "Fraser of the Master of Lovet's regiment" survived the slaughter, her character should be Jamie Fraser.
Women Really Were Treated As Property
Things were not so great for women in 18th-century Scotland. People didn't even look at women as second-class citizens, and everyone viewed them as men's property. At that time in Scotland, women lived in a patriarchal society, and men had total authority over women. A wife remains under the governance of her husband as long as he is alive and lives under the virtues of chastity and obedience to her husband. Only in noble societies did women become successful after their husbands' deaths.
There were plenty of examples of this in Outlander, including one early in Jamie and Claire's relationship. Jamie decided that, as her husband, it was his "duty" to punish Claire for her behavior, which led to her capture by Red Coats. Claire eventually showed him they should be partners rather than Jamie being in charge of Claire. Most men of that time would not have agreed to these circumstances.
Their Portrayal Of Healers
In rural Scotland in the 18th century, there were few medical treatment options, and there was little knowledge about medicine in general. There was also no local hospital for the Scots to go to should a problem arise. So, seeing Claire go from being a modern-day nurse to a healer in Scotland was a case of Outlander's historical accuracy, despite it seeming unnatural in that environment.
She adapts to the herbs and natural remedies to treat different ailments the people in Scotland endured. Modern methods of medicine did not exist during this time, so it was incredibly accurate to see the struggles Claire had in finding correct treatments while still succeeding in her endeavor. Her success came from her previous knowledge, her ability to adapt, and her intelligence level. But not everyone in that situation would be so lucky.
Lord Lovat Was A Real Person
One of the more interesting Outlander characters was Jamie's oddball relative, Lord Lovat. When first introduced in season 2, he had quite the personality. Simon Fraser, also known as the Old Fox, was an actual historical figure and the 11th Lord Lovat. On Outlander, he is the father of Brian Fraser and grandfather of Jamie Fraser, which is how his character is interweaved in the storylines with our lead hero. He was not actually related to Jamie Fraser in real life.
When looking at Scottish history, the 11th Lord Lovat was who author Diana Gabaldon based Simon Fraser on. According to Gabaldon (via Parade), she stayed very close to his real personality in her portrayal of him in Outlander.
"I made no alterations to his life or persona, save for grafting an illegitimate and totally fictional branch onto his family tree by making him Jamie Fraser’s grandfather. Given Old Simon’s persona as recorded, attributing an illegitimate son to him would in no way be character assassination."
There Were A Lot Of Superstitions
There are several instances on the show where the Scots' superstitions are highlighted in different characters. Even in the pilot, Samhain was celebrated, known as the Day of the Dead. Samhain is a Celtic holiday where "spirits are free to roam amongst the living." There was also talk of fairies, witches, and other Highland myths. Many of these superstitions are based on pagan mythology.
The folklore that occurred on the show was also highly believed by the Scots during that time period. It greatly affected their lives and would alter their decisions if something they didn't understand came up. Instead of figuring it out, they assumed it was some sorcery or dark magic that they wanted no part of. The portrayal of the highly superstitious moments on the show was an example of Outlander's historical accuracy.
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The Jacobites Did Defeat the British At Prestonpans
It is important to include battle scenes in historical fiction shows like Outlander not only for historical accuracy, but also for drama and action as part of the storyline. It ties everything together. One of the best battles shown was the Battle of Prestonpans. This battle was the one the Jacobites actually succeeded in, unlike the tragic Battle of Culloden.
They had the upper hand because of their astonishing battle strategy of sneaking up on the enemy through the bog to their campsite in the early hours of the morning. This was a very real strategy that a Jacobite general devised. The way the entire battle happened on the show was an incredibly realistic portrayal of Outlander's historical accuracy. The original battle occurred on September 21, 1745, and the real battle lasted less than 30 minutes.
The Highlanders In Jamie’s Army Were Not Upper Class
During the time of the Jacobite Rebellion, Highlander Scots were largely lower class and did not have a lot of money to their name. This meant their clothes were ragged and their weaponry was slim. If they even had any to claim as their own. When Jamie formed his army for the rebellion, his soldiers from the Highlands were depicted in the same way as they would have looked in the 18th century.
From their clothing to their pitchforks in hand and other small details, it is clear that these men did not come from money. They had some powerful people backing them, but the warriors fighting the battles were not of a high class. This was clearly a working man's army. This attention to detail proves that both author Diana Gabaldon and the writers on the show know their history very well.
The Women’s Costumes Were Spot-On For The Time
Outlander costume designer Terry Dresbach has the phenomenal ability to recreate fashions from the time periods of the show. This even includes the fashions of specific countries in the 18th century. It turns out her recreations are spot-on for what women during that time wore - particularly the Scottish ensembles the women wore.
The tight corsets and extra padding of the pannier that Claire regularly wears are exactly what a Scottish woman wore in the 18th century. It couldn't have been an easy task to undertake. In season 2 alone, Dresbach created over 10,000 costumes (via Harper's Bazaar) for the cast that were impeccably detailed and brought viewers back to that time seamlessly. "The biggest thing we had to figure out was where the hell we were going to get 18th-century fabric from," Dresbach said. "There is no store that sells that, so we had to make it."
Things In Outlander That Are Not Historically Accurate
The Witch Trial Wouldn’t Have Happened At That Time
There was some artistic licensing happening when the author of the Outlander books, Diana Gabaldon, wrote the witch trial scene in the first Outlander novel. It was also later portrayed in the show's first season. This witch trial scene was when Laoghaire accused Geillis and Claire of witchcraft, mostly to get back at Claire for "stealing" Jamie from her.
However, the last witch trial in Scotland actually took place over 20 years prior, in 1727 (via The Scotsman). In fact, a law in the 1740s made it illegal to accuse someone of being a witch. So, the whole storyline is completely off-base for the time period. There were a lot of superstitions during that time in Scotland that were historically accurate, including the belief in witchcraft, but the actual witch trials were out of line and never would have happened then.
Craigh Na Dun Doesn’t Really Exist
The standing stones at Craigh Na Dun are connected to most events in the series, from Claire going through the stones the first time to the times she tried to make her way back to her own time. They played a role when she was reluctantly sent back to her time before Culloden and finally when she returned to Craigh Na Dun and reunited with Jamie. None of this would have occurred without them.
But in reality, these standing stones don't exist. Outlander executive producer Ronald D. Moore revealed that they carved the standing stones from styrofoam and painted the structures to look as authentic as possible (via send a person to the future, like Claire did.
People Were Not As Hygienic Back Then
On a sweepingly romantic show like Outlander, it would be difficult to enjoy the ionate and steamy scenes if fans knew how bad everyone must have smelled. It isn't portrayed really at all on the show, but in the 18th century, there were no toothbrushes, toothpaste, or even soap. It is only imaginable that, during that time, everyone would be decidedly less attractive and decidedly more stench-ridden.
That may have been completely normal back then, but now it would seem nauseating. This is one inaccuracy the show had to change to make the romantic scenes so beautiful. While the clothing was accurate for the time, they wouldn't have looked anywhere as good as they do on the show, and the men and women wouldn't have been nearly as clean with such nice hair in the times the show replicated.
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Things Didn’t Go Back To Normal After WWII For Some Time
Claire was a World War II nurse before she went through the stones at Craigh Na Dun. When she first appears, the war has just ended. The series depicts the war's ending as if everything went back to normal soon after it ended. But it actually took years for everyone involved in the war to return to normal.
The time after World War II saw a period of instability. There were economic problems as the national debt exploded. Families had to reunite after the war, and there was a case of decolonization for the British territories. It wasn't until 1947 that things seemed to return to the status quo. This change to the history of that era was definitely an instance where it benefited the story and what the show needed to have happen more than it was to make Outlander historically accurate.
Not Many Jacobites Carried Targes On The Battlefield
There are weapons that either aid in offensive or defensive moves in a battle. So when going up against the enemy on the battlefield, a warrior should not only have an offensive weapon but a defensive weapon, as well. For the Jacobites not to have both was alarming for those who paid attention. Targe is an old-English word for a shield, and during the 18th-century battles the Scots fought in the Jacobite Rebellion, they used targes as their primary defense against the Red Coat's weaponry, including bayonets.
However, one interesting fact about the cast of Outlander during the battles was that there were very few men on the field with targes, even though they were carrying broadswords. The two go hand in hand if they want a chance of getting out of there alive. This was likely something the production overlooked, but it was still noticeable to viewers.
Jamie’s Tartans Are The Wrong Colors
The color of Jamie's tartans is a significant inaccuracy in Outlander. There are two Clan Frasers, one is the highland clan - Clan Fraser of Lovat - and this is Jamie's clan. There is also a related lowland Fraser family. The Fraser of Lovat's tartans were bold red and green in the clan's kilts, but they wear gray and blue tartans instead on the show. This color choice in Outlander was a creative costume choice but a considerable historical inaccuracy.
The actual Fraser clan colors might have been too flashy for Outlander's setting and story. However, it is odd that the production wouldn't want their key characters to sport accurate tartan colors. Outlander costume designer Terry Dresbach said they had to compromise because red dye is expensive (via Elle Magazine). They used red for Prince Charles, saying, "He actually was out on the battlefield wearing that brilliant red plaid. It's just something, isn't it? Dyes were incredibly, incredibly expensive."
A Farmer’s Son Didn’t Give Them Their Strategy At Prestonpans - But A General Did
During an incredible scene in season 2 of Outlander, Claire pretends to be taken by the Jacobites so that Jamie can threaten her if the farmer's son - who grows up to be Lord John Grey - doesn't help them win the battle the following day. He complies in hopes of saving Claire from harm, though she was never really in any danger in the first place.
Their strategy to go through the marshy bog and surprise their enemy's camp came from Grey's information on the show. In reality, it was a general in the Jacobite army who helped come up with the strategy. He had grown up in the area of Prestonpans they were headed into and knew about the bog. It was interesting to see how they changed the show's storyline to improve it, but it was historically inaccurate.
Bonnie Prince Charlie’s Idiocy Was Exaggerated
Sure, there were plenty of mistakes made at the hands of Prince Charles Edward Stuart, the leader of the Jacobite Rebellion. The first one was he went to Scotland in pursuit of the crown with basically no army at the ready. He, quite honestly, had no idea what he was really up against in his fight against England. He was not the best leader, either.
But while Andrew Gower gave a fantastic performance as the Bonnie Prince on Outlander, the way he was written as a bumbling idiot was a bit exaggerated. Not all of his personality was false, but he certainly was not as oblivious as he appeared on the Starz series. Typically, when people think of Prince Charlie, he's either idiotic or a romanticized version. But in reality, there was a middle ground with the Prince.
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It Wasn’t Purely England Vs. Scotland
From the way that the Jacobite Uprising played out on Outlander, it seemed as though it was only England versus all of Scotland in the show's war. This heightened the tensions between many characters and made Claire's arrival in Scotland as an English woman all the more frightening for the Scots. This fact is the reason why Colum and Dougal were so concerned that she was actually a spy for the English.
But historically, there were Scots on the side of the English rather than all Scotsmen being a part of the Jacobite Rebellion. It was mostly Highlanders who were a part of the rebellion, but even then, not all of them wanted a part in the war. This change in history was another way Outlander raised the drama with its creative choices in the Starz series.
Paris Would Have Had More Modern Medicine Treatments Than What Claire Used
Claire was a gifted nurse during WWII and became a gifted healer in the 18th century. But apparently, she could have had even more at her disposal when treating patients in in season 2. When Claire went to Master Raymond's Apothecary while she was in Paris with Jamie, she received many herbs and natural medications to help treat Jamie and others.
It's worth noting that 18th-century had more advanced medical treatments than those showcased on the show. Claire could have received a lot more legitimate medications to help her patients. This was likely a creative choice to raise the drama and make the medical treatments seem much more dated, but it was definitely not an example of Outlander's historical accuracy concerning 18th-century . But at least her friendship with Master Raymond blossomed, making the trip all that much better.
Outlander follows Claire Randall, a married nurse from 1945, who is transported back to 1743 Scotland. Amidst political intrigue and danger, she navigates life in the past and becomes torn between loyalty to her husband and the love for a dashing young warrior.
- Directors
- Metin Hüseyin, Jamie Payne
- Seasons
- 7
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