LOUIS XV was the chief sponsor and financier of the 1745 Jacobite Rebellion – Charles Edward Stuart’s attempt to seize the thrones of Scotland and England.

The Jacobite army took Edinburgh without much resistance and, on September 21, defeated a government army at Prestonpans by sneaking across a marsh in the mist.

Having taken Carlisle, Charles's army progressed as far as Derby. There, despite the objections of the Prince, the decision was taken by his council to return to Scotland, largely because of the almost complete lack of support from English Jacobites that Charles had promised.

King George II's son, the Duke of Cumberland, caught up with them at the Battle of Culloden on April 16, 1746. At Culloden, his forces were utterly routed and Charles went into hiding.

It is known Louis XV sent a number of ships laden with supplies to support Charlie in his hiding.

Two, named Le Mars and La Bellone, were laden with a huge quantity of gold and weapons but were intercepted and forced to limp back to France.

Stuart followers and historians have long believed that several other vessels were sent to relieve Charlie. He was finally rescued by a French ship and lived out his life in exile.