Battle of the Boyne
Oldbridge, County Meath, Kingdom of Ireland
What happened
King William III, with his commander the Duke of Schomberg, fought his father-in-law, the former King James II, who led a Jacobite army with French and Irish commanders. In 1688 William of Orange had replaced James II as king, and James came to Ireland with French help to win back his throne. The two armies met at the River Boyne, near Oldbridge in County Meath. William's infantry, led by the Dutch Blue Guards, forced their way across the river, and after hard cavalry fighting the Jacobite army retreated.
Why it matters
Result: Williamite victory. Leaders: William III / Duke of Schomberg against James II / Earl of Tyrconnell. Why it matters: The victory secured William's rule over England, Scotland and Ireland. It is still commemorated every 12 July by the Orange Order, and the parades remain controversial in Northern Ireland.
What came next
James II fled to France after the battle and never returned. The war in Ireland went on until the Treaty of Limerick in October 1691, after the Jacobites were broken at Aughrim.
Did you know?
William III died in 1702 of pneumonia, after a fall from his horse Sorrel broke his collarbone.
Timeline
- 1688 CEWilliam of Orange invades England, and James II is deposed.
- 1 July 1690 CEWilliam defeats James at the Boyne (11 July in the modern calendar).
- October 1691 CEThe Treaty of Limerick ends the war in Ireland.
- 8 March 1702 CEWilliam III dies at Kensington Palace.