What's the background to the marching season in Northern Ireland

< xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" />

King James II

�

Q.� Which was

A.� The decisive battle in the struggle between King James II, who had been deposed as King of England, and his successor, William III, for the control of Ireland. It was fought near the River Boyne, north-west of Dublin, on 1 July, 1690.

�

Q.� More details please.

A.� James (1633-1701, acceded 1685, deposed 1688) was a Roman Catholic, and the Catholics ruled Ireland during his reign. The English removed James from the throne in favour of his son-in-law William of Orange, a Dutch-speaking Protestant. It was known as the Glorious Revolution. The Irish, incensed, prepared to rebel and invited James to lead them. James borrowed troops from France and landed in Ireland in 1689. After his defeat at Boyne, a peace treaty was signed at Limerick in 1691 and Protestant control began over Catholics in Ireland.

�

Q.� Hence Orangemen

A.� Yes. Those gentlemen in a bowler hats and orange sashes are celebrating William of Orange's victory over Catholics, known as Jacobites.

�

Q.� A few more details of the run-up to the battle

A.� Certainly. William - who was married to James's daughter Mary - became king at the request of parliament. James sought refuge with his old ally, Louis XIV of France. He provided officers and arms for James and they landed at Kinsale in March, 1689.

�

Q.� Was he well received

A.� Yes. The lord deputy, the Earl of Tyrconnell, was a Catholic loyal to James, and his Irish army controlled most of the island. James summoned a parliament, mainly Catholic, which proceeded to repeal the legislation under which Protestant settlers had acquired land. During Tyrconnell's rule, Protestants had seen their influence eroded in the army, in the courts and in government. Only in Ulster - at the north of Ireland - did they have effective resistance. In September 1688, apprentice boys in Londonderry closed the city's gates to deny admission to a Catholic regiment under Lord Antrim. That resistance is still commemorated today.

�

Q.� And the rest of the northern province

A.� It also resisted James. Londonderry was besieged for three months by James's army. The Protestants of Enniskillen defended their walled city with vigour, and won battles against Catholic troops. Eventually, James withdrew from the north.

�

Q.� And what did the new king think of all this

A.� He took action. In August, 1689, he sent Marshal Schomberg, who landed at Bangor with 20,000 troops. With Ulster secure, he pushed south as far as Dundalk. Both sides built up their armies and by the time William landed at Carrickfergus on 14 June, he had an army of 36,000 men. He marched towards Dublin and met resistance near Newry, but the Jacobites soon withdrew to the south bank of the River Boyne.

�

Q.� For that famous battle

A.� Indeed. The battle was fought on 1 July, 1690, at a river bend four miles west of Drogheda. The main body of William's infantry concentrated on fording the river at the village of Oldbridge. First, cavalry and infantry made a flanking attack upstream, which forced James to divert troops to prevent his retreat being cut off. By mid-afternoon the Jacobite army was in retreat, outpaced by James, who rode to Dublin to warn the city of William's approach. He then fled to France. William entered Dublin on 6 July.

�

Q.� So, if the Battle of the Boyne was on 1 July, why is it now celebrated on 12 July

A.� Excellent question and an answer suitable for trivia-lovers. Eleven days were lost during the change from the Julian to the Gregorian calendar in 1752.

�

To ask a question about History & Myths, click here

By Steve Cunningham

�