Latest / The History of Ireland: Rebellion, Empire, and Independence — Fexingo History / The Siege of Limerick 1691 and the Treaty That Ended a War
Transcript
- Lucas: So we've talked a lot about the Williamite War — the Battle of the Boyne, the Siege of Derry — but I think one of the most dramatic stories is what happened after the Boyne, the final stand of the Jacobite forces in Ireland. That's the Siege of Limerick in 1691. Luna: I know Limerick fell eventually, but didn't the Jacobites put up a fierce fight? Lucas: They did. After the Boyne in 1690, King James II fled to France, but his Irish commander, Patrick Sarsfield, rallied the remaining troops. Limerick was one of the last Jacobite strongholds. The city was divided by the River Shannon, with the main walled town on the south side and a bridge connecting to a bridgehead on the north. The Williamites, under Godert de Ginkell — usually just called Ginkel — surrounded the city in August 1691. Lucas: The first siege in 1690 had failed because Sarsfield led a daring raid that destroyed the Williamite siege train at Ballyneety. That bought Limerick another year. But by 1691, Ginkel was better prepared. He had a massive army, maybe 25,000 men, and he bombarded the city heavily. Luna: What was Sarsfield's strategy? Lucas: He hoped for reinforcements from France. But they never came in time. The city's walls were crumbling under the bombardment. Ginkel tried a direct assault on the Thomond Bridge, which was the northern approach. The Jacobites managed to hold, but it was clear they couldn't last. So Sarsfield opened negotiations. Luna: That led to the Treaty of Limerick, right? Lucas: Exactly. The treaty was signed on October 3, 1691, on a stone that became known as the Treaty Stone — it's still a famous landmark in Limerick. The terms were surprisingly generous. The Jacobite soldiers were allowed to march away, either to join the French army or to go home. Catholics were promised the same religious freedoms they had under Charles II, and they could keep their property. Lucas: It was. The treaty had two parts: a military treaty and a civil one. The military treaty allowed the Jacobite army to either disband or go to France. About 14,000 soldiers chose to leave and entered French service — they became known as the Wild Geese. That was a huge loss for Ireland. The civil treaty, though, was supposed to protect Catholic rights. Luna: But it didn't last. Lucas: No. The Irish Parliament, which was dominated by Protestants, refused to ratify the civil treaty. Within a few years, the Penal Laws were introduced, systematically stripping Catholics of their rights. The Treaty of Limerick became known as the 'broken treaty.' Sarsfield, by the way, died in France at the Battle of Landen in 1693. But his legacy in Ireland is huge — he's often seen as a heroic figure. Luna: It's interesting how that treaty, which was supposed to bring peace, ended up being a source of grievance for centuries. Lucas: Exactly. The treaty's broken promises fueled resentment that lasted well into the 18th and 19th centuries. And the Wild Geese — those Irish soldiers who left — they fought in armies all over Europe, from France to Austria to Spain. So the Siege of Limerick wasn't just the end of a war; it was a turning point that shaped the Irish diaspora. Luna: And the Treaty Stone is still there as a reminder. Lucas: It is. You can see it on the banks of the Shannon, under a little canopy. It's a symbol of both the hopes and the betrayals of that moment.