Outlander blends historical fiction with fantasy, but it is its grounded portrayal of real historical figures that often gives the series its emotional weight and political tension. The show navigates centuries of upheaval, from the Jacobite rising to the American Revolution, and in doing so, introduces a number of well-rendered historical characters. While not every depiction is strictly accurate, many are portrayed with nuance and complexity that reflect the realities of their time.
Here is a look at some of the most compelling historical figures featured in Outlander.
Prince Charles Edward Stuart (Bonnie Prince Charlie)
Andrew Gower’s portrayal of Charles Edward Stuart avoids romanticised heroism. Instead, he plays the prince as an idealist weighed down by entitlement, vanity and insecurity. The show reflects historical criticism of Charles’s leadership during the 1745 Jacobite rising, depicting him as disconnected from the harsh realities of war. His blind faith in divine providence and his failure at Culloden are shown not as tragic misfortune but as the result of poor leadership.
King Louis XV of France
Lionel Lingelser’s performance captures both the elegance and duplicity of Louis XV. The French court is presented as a place of decadence, political intrigue and personal compromise. Louis’s interactions with Claire and Jamie reveal his moral ambiguity, capable of charm and cruelty alike. Historically, Louis XV did little to support the Jacobite cause beyond polite diplomacy, and Outlander remains broadly in line with that portrayal.
George Washington
Though his role is brief, George Washington appears as a symbol of the shifting power structures during the American Revolution. The show depicts him not as the monumental figure of textbooks, but as a practical, thoughtful leader caught in the strain of revolution. His presence adds weight to the show’s later seasons, grounding the personal narratives in wider geopolitical change.
Benedict Arnold
Often misunderstood, Benedict Arnold’s depiction in Outlander offers a subtle glimpse at the complexities behind his eventual defection to the British. The show hints at his frustrations with Continental leadership and his sense of betrayal, showing a man conflicted between principle and self-interest. While the treatment is restrained, it’s one of the few television portrayals that makes an effort to understand Arnold beyond the caricature of treason.
Simon Fraser, Lord Lovat
Clive Russell plays Jamie Fraser’s grandfather with calculated menace. Known as the “Old Fox”, Simon Fraser was a real historical figure infamous for his cunning and double-dealing. Outlander leans into this, portraying him as brutal, shrewd and manipulative. While his scenes are limited, they are impactful, offering insight into the violent and politically unstable world of Highland nobility before Culloden.
General Simon Fraser (of Balnain)
The show briefly portrays General Fraser, a cousin of Jamie in the story and a real British Army officer who died during the Saratoga campaign. His presence brings a personal and tragic layer to the Revolutionary War setting. His portrayal reflects historical respect for his character and leadership, though the family connection is fictional.
The Seven Swords takeaway
Outlander’s strength lies not only in its central love story but in the way it threads historical figures through its narrative without turning them into one-note symbols. These characters are shown at moments of conflict and consequence, sometimes heroic, often flawed. The series doesn’t claim to offer perfect accuracy, but in treating its historical characters with dramatic depth, it lends weight to the periods it explores.
