Page 35 - All About History - Issue 19-14

Greatest Battles

Continental force
Both sides’ ranks were bolstered by
soldiers from across Europe – the only
theme separating them was their religious
denomination. Further muddying the
waters, the Pope came out in support of
William instead of the Catholic James.

BATTLE OF

THE BOYNE
NEAR DROGHEDA, IRELAND 1 JULY 1690

he Battle of the Boyne has gone down conquest of 1649 to 1653, they saw James as a
in folklore as one of the most important means of gaining autonomy.
ever hosted on the British Isles. Pitching By contrast, William (who was married to
William of Orange against the former James James’s daughter Anne), saw James as a threat
T II of England, it pitted sovereign against to Protestant rule. Coupled with his alliance with
sovereign – the last time two British monarchs Louis – whose domination of Europe William had
ever faced each other in battle. Its significance sought to end – he knew James needed to be dealt
varies depending on which side you’re on: with decisively. To this end, he raised a huge army,
for the so-called Jacobites (the name given to comprising a wide array of nationalities. They
James’s supporters), the attraction was the idea included French Huguenots (forced to abandon
of pursuing much-wanted religious freedom. For France due to the repeal of the Edict of Nantes,
their opponents, it was about staving off defeat which granted them religious freedom), Ulster-
against an outside threat in the form of James based Irish Protestants and troops from England,
and Catholicism and preventing a return to the Scotland, Denmark and the Netherlands. William’s
bloodshed of events like the 1641 Irish Rebellion. army totalled around 36,000.
Having effectively abandoned the throne during Upon landing at the port of Carrickfergus near
the events of the Glorious Revolution of 1688, Belfast, William’s forces marched toward Dublin.
James had fled to France, with Dutch Protestant In response, James ordered his forces to meet
William of Orange being invited to become king them at the River Boyne, 50 kilometres (30 miles)
in his place. However, James still harboured away from the city – the city’s last natural obstacle.
ambitions of regaining the throne, although being a Having reached there on 29 June, the battle
staunch Catholic, he knew any attempts to invade commenced two days later on 1 July after William
the predominantly Protestant England would be led his army across the Boyne, upon which fighting
problematic. Instead, he chose Ireland as the route ensued. After four hours of battle, characterised by
through which he would regain power; being counter-attack after counter-attack, the Jacobites
predominantly Catholic, it was a place where he retreated, although major losses were prevented by
could expect to gain support. the cavalry covering their withdrawal.
The Irish Catholics duly backed James in Although the losses for both sides were low for
numbers; having landed at Ulster on 14 June 1690 a battle of such size and importance, there was to
with around 6,000 French soldiers provided by be no rematch. James returned to exile in France
James’ cousin Louis XIV, by the time the battle where he would live for the rest of his life, leaving
commenced his army had been bolstered to William free to march on Dublin, where the Treaty
around 23,500. The Jacobites supported him of Limerick – marking the re-conquest of Ireland –
due to his apparent desire for religious freedom was signed in 1691. William had secured the throne
for all denominations, as characterised by his for himself and his wife Mary in the last time two
1687 Declaration of Indulgence. Having suffered British monarchs have faced each other in battle,
persecution during Oliver Cromwell’s famous and Britain was once again united.

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