Dominick Sarsfield, 4th Viscount Sarsfield facts for kids
Dominick Sarsfield, 4th Viscount Sarsfield, was an important Irish noble who lived a long time ago. He was born into a well-known family in Ireland. Dominick supported King James II during a big war in Ireland called the Williamite War in Ireland. He became the 4th Viscount Sarsfield after his father passed away in 1687.
His Family and Life
Dominick Sarsfield came from a famous Roman Catholic family. They were known as "Old English," which means their ancestors were English people who had settled in Ireland many years before. His family owned a lot of land in County Limerick and County Cork.
Dominick's father was David Sarsfield, 3rd Viscount Sarsfield. When his father died in 1687, Dominick took over the title. His mother was Elizabeth de Courcy. She was the daughter of Patrick de Courcy, who was the 13th Baron Kingsale.
Dominick Sarsfield married Anne Sarsfield of Lucan. Anne was the sister of another famous Irish leader, Patrick Sarsfield, 1st Earl of Lucan. Letters written by Dominick show that he and Anne loved each other very much.
Supporting King James II
Dominick Sarsfield was a strong supporter of King James II. King James II was a Catholic king who was trying to keep his throne. Dominick was part of an important group called the Irish Council. This group helped the king make decisions for Ireland.
In 1689, Dominick was a member of the Patriot Parliament. This was a special meeting of Irish leaders who supported King James. They made new laws and took actions against Irish Protestants who had supported King James's nephew, William III.
Losing His Title and Exile
The war in Ireland eventually ended with King James II's side losing. After the war, the Irish Parliament was controlled by those who supported King William III.
In 1691, Dominick Sarsfield was declared "attainted." This meant he lost his title as Viscount and all his family's lands. He had to leave Ireland because of his support for King James. This event was part of a larger movement called the Flight of the Wild Geese. Many Irish soldiers and nobles left Ireland after the war.
Dominick Sarsfield died in 1701 while he was living in exile.
His Brother David
Dominick's younger brother, David Sarsfield, also had to leave Ireland. David joined the Spanish Army and fought in other wars. He was killed in a battle called the Battle of Villaviciosa in 1710.
David Sarsfield never tried to claim the Viscount title for himself. He had two sons and a famous daughter named Catalina Sarsfield. Later, in 1761, a person named Dominick Sarsfield became the Recorder of Kinsale. He was likely a descendant of this Sarsfield family.
