King William III at The Battle of the Boyne, 1 July 1690

Etching by Romeyn de Hoogh. Published in Holland.

The deposed king, James II (1633-1701), still had many supporters in Ireland. On 12 July 1690 James's army met the forces of William III (1650-1702) by the Boyne river near the town of Drogheda. Despite stiff resistance, William's forces eventually broke through the Jacobite centre and right, causing a general retreat. Although the Battle of the Boyne was later celebrated as a decisive victory for William, Jacobite casualties were comparatively light and the greater part of James's army escaped.