Starz’s Outlander mixes history with fiction and time travel, which makes it an engaging watch. The show revolves around Claire Randall, who is transported back to the time of the Jacobite uprising, where she meets and falls in love with Jamie Fraser.
The historical fantasy series has been on air since 2014 and has introduced several fascinating characters over the years, including Simon Fraser, the 11th Lord of Lovat, and Jamie’s grandfather, who appears in the second season.
Simon is played by actor Clive Russell. Also known by the nickname The Old Fox, he is an untrustworthy and disloyal Lord who tries to play for both the Jacobite rebels and the British Empire. He is ultimately beheaded on the charge of treason.
Interestingly, Outlander features another character with the name of Simon Fraser in the seventh season. Played by Angus Macfadyen, he is a distant cousin of Jamie, who serves as the Brigadier-General in the British Army.
Jamie’s grandfather Simon Fraser is beheaded for treason in Outlander
Simon Fraser, Lord Lovat, is a selfish and morally gray character introduced in Outlander season 2, episode 8, The Fox’s Lair. He is smart, sly, and always looking out for himself. Simon is more interested in protecting his own power than showing loyalty to any cause.
He turns out to be an obstacle for Jamie and Claire as they try to gather support for the Jacobite rebellion. From the moment Jamie and Claire arrive at Lovat’s castle, it becomes clear that Simon is cold and calculating, and will only offer his help if it benefits him.
Jamie asks for Lovat’s men to fight in the rebellion, but the Lord demands either Lallybroch, Jamie’s home, or Claire’s virtue in exchange for his help. Meanwhile, he treats his timid son, also named Simon, terribly, and embarrasses him in front of others.
Jamie then warns him not to try harming Claire, saying that she will leave him in pieces if he does. He also uses the rumor that Claire is ‘La Dame Blanche’ to scare Lovat, knowing the Lord believes in the supernatural.
Claire also notices that Simon Jr. might not have the courage to stand up to his father, so she tries to boost his confidence. She later uses a vision from Lovat’s seer to warn him that he might die as a traitor. In the end, Simon Jr. surprises everyone by standing up to his father and pledging loyalty to the Jacobites.
However, Lord Lovat still looks out for himself by sending his men under Simon’s command and plans to disown his son if the rebellion fails. Later, it is revealed that Lord Lovat is beheaded on the charge of treason for helping the Jacobites.
Simon Fraser is based on a historical figure
As Outlander takes inspiration from history, some characters are based on real-world personalities, including Simon Fraser. Born in 1667, he was the 11th Lord Lovat and the leader of Clan Fraser of Lovat.
He is remembered for his shifting loyalties during a time of political turmoil. At first, he supported the Hanoverian government during the 1715 Jacobite uprising and was rewarded with control of the Lovat estate.
However, by 1729, he secretly supported Catholic rights in his clan and started working with the exiled Stuart family. In the 1745 Jacobite uprising, Lovat tried to support both sides but eventually sided with the Jacobites.
He was captured while hiding in Lochaber and sent to London, where he was found guilty of treason. On April 9, 1747, he was executed by beheading and became the last man in Britain to face this punishment.
In an interview with Express.co.uk, Scottish historian Murray Pittock talked about Simon Fraser and what his inclusion in Outlander means for the storyline. He said:
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“It’s very interesting that Diana Gabaldon [author of the Outlander novel series] chose a Fraser as her hero because of course, among those leaders of the great Scottish families, Simon Fraser of Lovat was regarded as by far the most - the Old Fox - the most double-faced and untrustworthy.”
Outlander is currently airing its seventh season on Starz and airs new episodes on Fridays.
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