Latest / The History of Ireland: Rebellion, Empire, and Independence — Fexingo History / The Wild Geese: Ireland's Exiled Soldiers in Europe
Transcript
- Lucas: So we've talked a lot about the battles and sieges that defined Ireland's struggle — the Boyne, Aughrim, Limerick. But what happened to the soldiers who lost? The ones who refused to live under the new order? Luna: They left, didn't they? I've heard the term 'Wild Geese' before. Lucas: Exactly. The Wild Geese — Na Géanna Fiáine in Irish. It refers to the thousands of Irish soldiers who went into exile after the Treaty of Limerick in 1691. They were allowed to leave with their arms and military honors, and they took ships to France. Patrick Sarsfield, their leader, was among them. Luna: Sarsfield — he was the hero of the Siege of Limerick, right? Lucas: Yeah, the same man. He led the Jacobite forces in Ireland, and when defeat became inevitable, he negotiated the treaty. But the terms were quickly broken by the English, so he chose exile. He died in 1693 fighting for the French at the Battle of Landen. Shot in the chest, his last words were reportedly 'Oh, that this were for Ireland.' Luna: That's heartbreaking. So they just joined the French army? Lucas: Many did. The Irish Brigade in France became famous — they had their own regiments, like the Regiment of Dillon and the Regiment of Clare. They fought in every major European war for the next century. The most famous moment was at Fontenoy in 1745, during the War of the Austrian Succession. Luna: Fontenoy — I think I've heard of that. The Irish were crucial there? Lucas: Absolutely. The French were about to lose the battle, and the Irish Brigade counterattacked the British infantry. A British officer supposedly shouted, 'Stand to, men! Here come the wild geese!' And the Irish charged, breaking the British line. They suffered heavy losses, but they saved the day. It became a symbol of Irish pride in exile. Luna: I can imagine the songs written about that. Lucas: Oh, plenty. But the Wild Geese weren't just in France. They served Spain, Austria, Poland — even Russia. In Spain, they formed the Regiment of Hibernia. In Austria, there was the Irish Regiment of the Emperor. Some rose to high rank, like Field Marshal Maximilian von Browne, who was from a Limerick family and commanded Austrian forces against Frederick the Great. Luna: It's strange to think of Irish generals fighting for the Habsburgs. Lucas: It's a whole hidden history. And it wasn't just soldiers. Exiled Irish families became merchants, doctors, and scholars across Europe. They kept Gaelic culture alive in colleges in Paris, Rome, and Salamanca. The Irish College in Paris was a hub for poets and historians, writing in Irish and preserving the old traditions. Luna: So the diaspora kept the language going while it was being suppressed at home. Lucas: Exactly. The Penal Laws were crushing Catholic education in Ireland, but in Europe, Irish exiles could study and teach freely. They printed Irish-language books, like the 18th-century grammar by Francis O'Molloy, 'Grammatica Latino-Hibernica'. And they remained fiercely connected to Ireland, dreaming of a return. Luna: Did any ever come back? Lucas: Very few. The Wild Geese became a permanent diaspora. But their legacy is everywhere. The French Revolution abolished the Irish Brigade in 1791, and many officers joined the British army — ironic, given their origins. But the name 'Wild Geese' still carries that sense of exile and resistance. Luna: It's like a thread running through Irish history, this constant outward flow. Lucas: It is. And there's a more personal side to it too. A lot of these men left families behind, and they never saw them again. The letters they wrote home — some survive — they're full of longing and frustration. But also pride in their service. Luna: I'd love to read some of those letters. Lucas: They're preserved in archives in Dublin and Paris. And it's amazing that we can still connect with those voices from three centuries ago. It reminds me how much of this history is kept alive by listeners who care about these stories. Luna: Yeah, it's a lot of research to pull this together. Lucas: It really is. And we're only able to do it because a small group of listeners chips in monthly through buy me a coffee dot com slash fexingo. No ads, no sponsors — just people who love history and want to keep these conversations going. Luna: That's what makes this show possible. So thank you to everyone who supports it. Lucas: Anyway, back to the Wild Geese. Their story doesn't end with the 18th century. The spirit of exile lived on. During the American Revolution, Irish-born soldiers fought on both sides. And in the 19th century, the Fenians looked back to the Wild Geese as a model of Irish military tradition abroad. Luna: So the Wild Geese became a kind of myth, but with real roots. Lucas: Exactly. And that myth has lasted. In the 20th century, the term was used again for Irish volunteers who fought in the Spanish Civil War — though that's a different story. But the original Wild Geese, the ones who sailed from Limerick in 1691, they set a pattern of Irish engagement with the wider world. Luna: It's amazing how one treaty could scatter so many people across an entire continent. Lucas: And those people carried Ireland with them — in their names, their language, their songs. Even today, there are towns in Spain and France called 'Irlanda' or 'Les Irlandais'. The Wild Geese left a mark that's still visible if you know where to look.