Treaty of Limerick facts for kids
The Treaty Stone, reputedly the location of the treaty signing.
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| Signed | 3 October 1691 |
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| Location | Limerick |
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Civil Articles
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| Languages | English |
The Treaty of Limerick (Irish: Conradh Luimnigh) was an important agreement signed in Limerick, Ireland, on October 3, 1691. This treaty officially ended the Williamite War in Ireland, which lasted from 1689 to 1691. This war was part of a larger European conflict called the Nine Years' War.
The treaty had two main parts. One part dealt with military matters, like what would happen to the soldiers. It was signed by commanders from France and Irish Jacobites. These Jacobites were loyal to the exiled King James II. The other side was represented by Baron de Ginkell, who led the forces of King William III and Queen Mary II.
A key part of the military agreement allowed Jacobite soldiers to go to France. This movement of people is known as the Flight of the Wild Geese. The second part of the treaty focused on people who stayed in Ireland. It promised religious freedom for Catholics and said they could keep their property. However, many of these promises were later broken or changed. This led to a period called the Protestant Ascendancy, where Protestants held most of the power in Ireland for a long time.
Contents
Understanding the War's Background
The war in Ireland was a big part of a larger struggle for power in Europe. King William III had defeated King James II at the Battle of Boyne in July 1690. However, this victory was not as complete as it seemed. The Jacobite army, though smaller, was still strong.
After the Battle of Boyne, a document called the Declaration of Finglas was issued. It offered forgiveness to ordinary Jacobite soldiers. But it did not include their leaders. This meant that if the war continued, more land could be taken from Jacobite nobles.
The Jacobites set up a strong defense line along the Shannon River. They successfully defended cities like Limerick and Athlone from attacks. However, it became very hard to feed their 20,000 soldiers and many refugees. Losing the ports of Kinsale and Cork also made it difficult to get supplies from France. By spring 1691, both soldiers and civilians were suffering from hunger.
King William III wanted peace in Ireland so he could focus on the war in Europe. In 1691, he told his commander, De Ginkell, to offer good terms to end the fighting. This decision later caused some disagreements.
The Jacobites themselves were not fully united. King James II saw Ireland as less important than his other goals. Many French leaders also saw Ireland mainly as a way to distract William's forces. After the Battle of Boyne, some French troops even left Ireland.
Irish Jacobites were split into two groups. One group, led by Sarsfield, believed they could still win the war. The other group, led by Tyrconnell, wanted to negotiate for peace while they still had an army. In May, France sent more troops and supplies to Limerick. But a lack of transport meant most of these supplies stayed at the port.
Military Agreements in the Treaty
The military articles of the Treaty of Limerick decided what would happen to the Jacobite army. Soldiers who were part of official regiments had a choice. They could leave Ireland with their weapons and flags to serve King James II in France. This group joined the Irish Brigade.
About 14,000 Jacobite soldiers chose to go to France. They marched south to Cork and boarded ships. Many of their wives and children went with them. Other soldiers who wanted to join the French, Spanish, or Austrian armies also left Ireland. This large movement of people became known as the Flight of the Wild Geese.
Jacobite soldiers also had other choices. About 1,000 soldiers decided to join King William's army. Another 2,000 soldiers chose to simply return to their homes.
This part of the treaty had twenty-nine articles. They were agreed upon by Lieutenant-General Ginkle for the English army. On the Irish side, Lieutenant-Generals D'Usson and de Tessé signed, along with Patrick Sarsfield and other Jacobite leaders.
Civil Agreements and Their Impact
The civil articles of the treaty were meant to protect the rights of defeated Jacobite landowners. Most of these landowners were Catholic and chose to stay in Ireland. The treaty said their property would not be taken away if they promised loyalty to King William III and Queen Mary II. It also said that Catholic noblemen could keep their weapons. King William wanted peace in Ireland and was allied with the Papacy (the Pope) at the time.
This part of the treaty had thirteen articles. They were agreed upon by important officials from King William's side, including Sir Charles Porter and Thomas Coningsby, 1st Earl Coningsby. On the Jacobite side, Sarsfield and others signed. Sir Toby Butler helped write the treaty.
However, many people say that the English government broke the civil articles of the treaty very quickly. The promises made to Catholics were not fully kept. Only a few Catholic landowners who took the loyalty oath right away kept their protections. Those who did not take the oath were seen as disloyal.
From 1695, a series of harsh Penal Laws were passed by the Parliament of Ireland. These laws made it very difficult for Irish Catholic nobles to remain Catholic and keep their land. These laws were made even stricter during the War of the Spanish Succession (1701–14). Reforms to these laws did not begin until the 1770s.
It is important to remember that the Treaty of Limerick was not the only agreement. A similar treaty was signed when Galway surrendered on July 22, 1691. That treaty did not require the same strict loyalty oath. The landowners in Galway and Mayo who benefited from that treaty kept their property for a long time. The Treaty of Limerick, however, marked the final end of the war.
Land Changes After the Treaty
After the Treaty of Limerick, more land was taken from people who continued to support the Jacobite cause. However, some people also received pardons and had their property returned.
By December 1699, officials reported that many people had lost their land. Over 3,900 people were declared outlaws. They owned more than a million acres of land. This land was worth a lot of money.
Some of these people were later pardoned, meaning their property was given back. This happened because of the treaties, including the one at Limerick. In the end, a large amount of land was taken by the government. This land was then sold or given to others. This process greatly changed who owned land in Ireland.
See also
- History of Limerick
- List of treaties
- Battle of the Boyne
- Irish of Nantes
