March 12th , 1689
James II of England and VII of Scotland landed at Kinsale, Ireland, on March 12, 1689. His arrival in Ireland was part of his effort to regain the thrones of England, Scotland, and Ireland after he was deposed during the Glorious Revolution of 1688. James, a Catholic monarch, faced opposition from the predominantly Protestant English Parliament, which invited his Protestant daughter Mary and her husband, William of Orange (William III), to take the throne. This effectively led to James’s ousting in what was a relatively bloodless coup.
Ireland, with its significant Catholic majority, was viewed by James as the most favorable base to launch his campaign to reclaim his crown. Upon landing at Kinsale, he was supported by many Irish Catholics who hoped his reign would bring about greater religious freedom and the return of confiscated lands.
Following his arrival in Ireland, James II made his way to Dublin, where he was warmly received. His presence in Ireland marked the beginning of a significant military campaign known as the Williamite War in Ireland, which lasted from 1689 until 1691. This conflict was part of the wider Nine Years’ War between France and a coalition of European powers, including the Dutch Republic, England, Spain, and the Holy Roman Empire.
The war in Ireland ended with the Battle of the Boyne in July 1690, where James II was defeated by the forces of William III. This defeat effectively ended James’s hopes of regaining the throne and solidified the position of William and Mary as the monarchs of England, Scotland, and Ireland. James II fled to France after the battle, where he lived in exile until his death in 1701. The Williamite victory in Ireland also ensured the continued Protestant ascendancy in the country and had lasting implications for Irish politics and society, particularly in terms of religious and land-ownership issues.
