Europe
Irish Brigade Memorial, Fontenoy, Belgium
The War of The Grand Alliance 1688-1697
When Sarsfields Wild Geese arrived in Europe, they were following in the long established tradition of Irish soldiers fighting in the armies of Europe. The chance to escape oppression and poverty plus the opportunity to fight against the old enemy, England, encouraged tens of thousands of Irishmen of military age to leave Ireland. The Wild Geese became involved right away in the ongoing War of the Grand Alliance (France against the Anglo-Dutch armies of King William III of England. One of the biggest battles of the War was the French victory at Landen in July 1693. Patrick Sarsfield died as a result of wounds sustained at Landen. His dying words “Oh that this were for Ireland” The War ended inconclusively in 1697 and led to the War of the Spanish Succession.
When Sarsfields Wild Geese arrived in Europe, they were following in the long established tradition of Irish soldiers fighting in the armies of Europe. The chance to escape oppression and poverty plus the opportunity to fight against the old enemy, England, encouraged tens of thousands of Irishmen of military age to leave Ireland. The Wild Geese became involved right away in the ongoing War of the Grand Alliance (France against the Anglo-Dutch armies of King William III of England. One of the biggest battles of the War was the French victory at Landen in July 1693. Patrick Sarsfield died as a result of wounds sustained at Landen. His dying words “Oh that this were for Ireland” The War ended inconclusively in 1697 and led to the War of the Spanish Succession.
The War of the Spanish Succession 1701-1714
The War of the Spanish Succession was a dynastic war over the rival claims of the Austrian Habsburgs and French Bourbons to the throne of Spain. Major battles fought during the War were at Blenheim (1704), Ramillies (1706), Oudenarde (1708) all French defeats and Malplaquet (1709), technically a French defeat but the larger losses on the Anglo-Austrian side, crippled the attempts to close the War by capturing Paris. Eventually the allies lost conviction and the Treaty of Utrecht brought the conflict to an end in 1714. The French Bourbons got the Spanish throne but had to give up any prospect of uniting France and Spain in a Bourbon Empire. Some of Spain’s overseas territories in Italy were ceded to the Austrians and Gibraltar ceded to Britain.
The War of the Spanish Succession was a dynastic war over the rival claims of the Austrian Habsburgs and French Bourbons to the throne of Spain. Major battles fought during the War were at Blenheim (1704), Ramillies (1706), Oudenarde (1708) all French defeats and Malplaquet (1709), technically a French defeat but the larger losses on the Anglo-Austrian side, crippled the attempts to close the War by capturing Paris. Eventually the allies lost conviction and the Treaty of Utrecht brought the conflict to an end in 1714. The French Bourbons got the Spanish throne but had to give up any prospect of uniting France and Spain in a Bourbon Empire. Some of Spain’s overseas territories in Italy were ceded to the Austrians and Gibraltar ceded to Britain.
The Jacobite Rising 1715
The death of the last Stuart monarch, Queen Anne, the act of Union 1707 (annexing Scotland to rule by England) anti-Catholic laws and the imposition of laws dismantling the old Highland clan laws and the invitation to the Protestant Hannoverian dynasty to assume the English (now British) throne was the catalyst for a rebellion among mostly Highland Scots. They rose in support of the Old Pretender (James Stuart) son of King James II. Although the French promised military aid to the Scots, it was not forthcoming in any significant numbers and the Wild Geese regiments which were strongly allied to the Highland clans thru the Gaelic language, loyalty to the Stuarts and the Catholic religion were not chosen to go to Scotland. The Jacobite Rising failed and the Hannoverian, King George I was made more secure on the British throne.
The death of the last Stuart monarch, Queen Anne, the act of Union 1707 (annexing Scotland to rule by England) anti-Catholic laws and the imposition of laws dismantling the old Highland clan laws and the invitation to the Protestant Hannoverian dynasty to assume the English (now British) throne was the catalyst for a rebellion among mostly Highland Scots. They rose in support of the Old Pretender (James Stuart) son of King James II. Although the French promised military aid to the Scots, it was not forthcoming in any significant numbers and the Wild Geese regiments which were strongly allied to the Highland clans thru the Gaelic language, loyalty to the Stuarts and the Catholic religion were not chosen to go to Scotland. The Jacobite Rising failed and the Hannoverian, King George I was made more secure on the British throne.
The War of the Austrian Succession 1740-1748
The War of the Austrian Succession was as the name suggests another dynastic dispute, this time involving the throne of Austria and the Holy Roman Empire. Essentially it was a struggle between Austria and Bavaria, with Britain and some German states supporting Austria while France, Spain and Prussia supported Bavaria. The Wild Geese regiments effectively won the Battle of Fontenoy (May 1745) for the French. The Treaty of Aix-la-Chappelle concluded the War with the Austrians guaranteed their rights but losing the province of Silesia to Prussia. The Bavarians gave up their claim to the Holy Roman Empire.
The War of the Austrian Succession was as the name suggests another dynastic dispute, this time involving the throne of Austria and the Holy Roman Empire. Essentially it was a struggle between Austria and Bavaria, with Britain and some German states supporting Austria while France, Spain and Prussia supported Bavaria. The Wild Geese regiments effectively won the Battle of Fontenoy (May 1745) for the French. The Treaty of Aix-la-Chappelle concluded the War with the Austrians guaranteed their rights but losing the province of Silesia to Prussia. The Bavarians gave up their claim to the Holy Roman Empire.
The Jacobite Rising 1745-46
In August 1745, Prince Charles Edward Stuart landed in the Highlands of Scotland with just seven companions. With most of the British Army fighting abroad, Charles led a Highland army thru Scotland and captured the city of Edinburgh, routing General Cope’s army at the Battle of Prestonpans. In November 1745, the Highlanders were joined by 800 “Royal Scots” and Irish Brigade soldiers from the regular French Army. They marched into England and within a few weeks the Jacobites had reached Derby, about 130 miles from London. Acknowledging that the population in the north of England had not rallied to the Jacobite cause and now knowing that the French would not invade southern England, the Jacobites turned back to Scotland, where they were victorious at Falkirk (January 1746) but they were forced to continue their retreat. The final battle of the campaign was the massacre at Culloden (April 1746). The rebel Highlanders were given no quarter by the British troops and many Highlanders were able to escape from the battlefield thru the rearguard action of the Irish regiments. As “French” regulars the Wild Geese could expect prisoner of war status. Bonnie Prince Charlie was escorted from the Culloden by Fitzjames Horse.
In August 1745, Prince Charles Edward Stuart landed in the Highlands of Scotland with just seven companions. With most of the British Army fighting abroad, Charles led a Highland army thru Scotland and captured the city of Edinburgh, routing General Cope’s army at the Battle of Prestonpans. In November 1745, the Highlanders were joined by 800 “Royal Scots” and Irish Brigade soldiers from the regular French Army. They marched into England and within a few weeks the Jacobites had reached Derby, about 130 miles from London. Acknowledging that the population in the north of England had not rallied to the Jacobite cause and now knowing that the French would not invade southern England, the Jacobites turned back to Scotland, where they were victorious at Falkirk (January 1746) but they were forced to continue their retreat. The final battle of the campaign was the massacre at Culloden (April 1746). The rebel Highlanders were given no quarter by the British troops and many Highlanders were able to escape from the battlefield thru the rearguard action of the Irish regiments. As “French” regulars the Wild Geese could expect prisoner of war status. Bonnie Prince Charlie was escorted from the Culloden by Fitzjames Horse.
