Williamite War in Ireland: Jacobites Beaten at the Boyne!

July 12, 1690 - William III defeats Jacobite forces at the Battle of the Boyne (right). Landing at Carrickfergus with 16,000 men in June 1690, William united with his forces in Ireland raising the size of his army to 36,000. Moving south, he sought to engage and destroy the Jacobite army led by the deposed James II. Rather than engage William in the rough country around Newry, James elected to adopt a strategic position along the south bank of the River Boyne. Arriving at the Boyne on July 11, William made preparations to assault the Jacobite positions the next day. Early on the 12th, William dispatched Count Meinhard Schomberg west with 10,000 men to cross the Boyne at Roughgrange while he opposed the main Jacobite position at Oldbridge. Crossing the Boyne, Schomberg's men pushed aside some Irish pickets. Concerned about his flank, James sent half his army to Roughgrange. Arriving, they were unable to engage Schomberg due to a large ravine. At Oldbridge, William began sending his men across the river to assault the Jacobites. Attacking, they succeeded in driving the Jacobites back until they were assaulted by James' cavalry. Around noon, William crossed downstream at Drybridge with 3,500 men. His advance forced the Jacobites to break off the fighting at Oldbridge and, after a brief engagement at Donore, retreat towards Duleek. Breaking off the battle, James reunited with those troops sent to Roughgrange and began retreating towards Shannon. Defeated, he left the army and rode to Duncannon where he embarked for France. The remnants of his army were ultimately besieged and captured at Limerick. While the Battle of the Boyne has assumed sectarian significance in Ireland, at the time its importance was that it marked the League of Augsburg's first major victory over France and its allies.

Photograph Source: Public Domain