What happened at the Battle of the Boyne?

Answer 1

very very briefly- James Stuart, king James 2 of Britain led a catholic army (some french, mostly Irish) into battle against his son in law, William of orange, a dutch prince married to James' protestant daughter Mary. James lost, partly through his own incompetence. William won and became co-ruler with Mary.

confusingly the pope supported William - saw him as a means of keeping France in check, and some Irish protestants supported James.

battle is seen as last stand against Britain in Ireland for over a century.

commemorated annually by parades in northern Ireland on July 12.

James was last catholic king of Britain. his defeat was followed by the imposition of the "penal laws" to keep catholics and dissenters (presbyterians) in a state of political and economic powerlessness.

Answer 2

England's Protestant King William of Orange defeated the forces of Ireland's Catholic King James (the forces consisted of mostly Irish and some French) on 1 July 1690 in the Battle of the Boyne. James II of England and VII of Scotland, the last Catholic king of England, had been deposed and had subsequently raised an army in Ireland where a Parliament had acknowledged him as king. There was conflict when James II lost the throne to William of Orange, with forces from both sides fighting on the banks of the Boyne River, just outside of the town of Drogheda on Ireland's east coast.

The battle wasn't militarily decisive, but more symbolic, making it one of the most infamous battles in British and Irish history and a key part in Irish Protestant folklore. It is still comemorated today, principally by the Orange Order. Once the Gregorian calendar was adopted, the day came to be commemorated on 12 July every year. The battle is seen as last stand against Britain in Ireland for over a century. King James's defeat was followed by the imposition of the "penal laws" to keep Catholics and dissenters (Presbyterians) in a state of political and economic powerlessness.