Siege of Athlone
Encyclopedia
Athlone in central Ireland
, was besieged twice during the Williamite War in Ireland
(1689–91). The town is situated on the River Shannon
and commanded the bridge crossing the river into the Jacobite
held province of Connaught
. For this reason, it was of key strategic importance.
s first besieged Athlone in 1690, not long after their victory in the Battle of the Boyne
. During this siege, they were commanded by William of Orange
. They were, however, unsuccessful.
proceeded through the village of Ballymore
and tried again to take Athlone, this time led by Dutch general Godart de Ginkel
.
An assault was made on the eastern part of Athlone on June 20, which caused the Jacobites to rereat across the Shannon to the west bank of the river, but on the way dismantled the bridge.
The Jacobites garrison at the western half of Athlone led by Clifford, initially held off the Williamite assault by fierce fighting, centred on the bridge over the Shannon. The Williamites tried to lay planks over the partially wrecked structure, which the Irish Jacobite troops managed to destroy despite coming under intense fire. Several attempts by the Williamites to storm the bridge were repulsed with heavy losses.
The Williamite bombardment of the town western, Connacht, side of the town was intense, with over 60,000 shot fired into the town over a ten day period. One survivor described the scene, "with the balls and bombs flying so thick, that spot was hell on earth".
However, Ginkel identified another crossing upriver and sent an elite grenadier force, 2,000 strong, to cross there and attack the Jacobite positions from the rear. The grenadiers manned the town's west-facing ramparts and held off Jacobite counter-attacks until the main Williamite force could be brought up.
After this, the Jacobite garrison, who had been awaiting reinforcement from the main Jacobite force advancing from Limerick
, hastily abandoned their positions in Athlone.
Ginkel and the Williamites went on to march on Limerick. On the march they were confronted by the main Jacobite army at the Battle of Aughrim
and the Williamites inflicted a crushing defeat on them — effectively ending Jacobite resistance in Ireland.
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
, was besieged twice during the Williamite War in Ireland
Williamite war in Ireland
The Williamite War in Ireland—also called the Jacobite War in Ireland, the Williamite-Jacobite War in Ireland and in Irish as Cogadh an Dá Rí —was a conflict between Catholic King James II and Protestant King William of Orange over who would be King of England, Scotland and Ireland...
(1689–91). The town is situated on the River Shannon
River Shannon
The River Shannon is the longest river in Ireland at . It divides the west of Ireland from the east and south . County Clare, being west of the Shannon but part of the province of Munster, is the major exception...
and commanded the bridge crossing the river into the Jacobite
Jacobitism
Jacobitism was the political movement in Britain dedicated to the restoration of the Stuart kings to the thrones of England, Scotland, later the Kingdom of Great Britain, and the Kingdom of Ireland...
held province of Connaught
Connacht
Connacht , formerly anglicised as Connaught, is one of the Provinces of Ireland situated in the west of Ireland. In Ancient Ireland, it was one of the fifths ruled by a "king of over-kings" . Following the Norman invasion of Ireland, the ancient kingdoms were shired into a number of counties for...
. For this reason, it was of key strategic importance.
First siege, 1690
The WilliamiteWilliamite
Williamite refers to the followers of King William III of England who deposed King James II in the Glorious Revolution. William, the Stadtholder of the Dutch Republic, replaced James with the support of English Whigs....
s first besieged Athlone in 1690, not long after their victory in the Battle of the Boyne
Battle of the Boyne
The Battle of the Boyne was fought in 1690 between two rival claimants of the English, Scottish and Irish thronesthe Catholic King James and the Protestant King William across the River Boyne near Drogheda on the east coast of Ireland...
. During this siege, they were commanded by William of Orange
William III of England
William III & II was a sovereign Prince of Orange of the House of Orange-Nassau by birth. From 1672 he governed as Stadtholder William III of Orange over Holland, Zeeland, Utrecht, Guelders, and Overijssel of the Dutch Republic. From 1689 he reigned as William III over England and Ireland...
. They were, however, unsuccessful.
1691 siege
The following year in the Summer of 1691, the Williamites having regrouped at MullingarMullingar
Mullingar is the county town of County Westmeath in Ireland. The Counties of Meath and Westmeath Act of 1542, proclaimed Westmeath a county, separating it from Meath. Mullingar became the administrative centre for County Westmeath...
proceeded through the village of Ballymore
Ballymore
Ballymore may refer to:*Ballymore , an Irish property company*Ballymore, County Cork, village on Great Island, Cork Harbour, Ireland*Ballymore, County Donegal, Ireland*Ballymore, County Westmeath, Ireland*Ballymore, County Wexford, Ireland...
and tried again to take Athlone, this time led by Dutch general Godart de Ginkel
Godert de Ginkell, 1st Earl of Athlone
Godert de Ginkell, 1st Earl of Athlone, or in his own country of the Netherlands born Baron Godard van Reede was a Dutch general in the service of England....
.
An assault was made on the eastern part of Athlone on June 20, which caused the Jacobites to rereat across the Shannon to the west bank of the river, but on the way dismantled the bridge.
The Jacobites garrison at the western half of Athlone led by Clifford, initially held off the Williamite assault by fierce fighting, centred on the bridge over the Shannon. The Williamites tried to lay planks over the partially wrecked structure, which the Irish Jacobite troops managed to destroy despite coming under intense fire. Several attempts by the Williamites to storm the bridge were repulsed with heavy losses.
The Williamite bombardment of the town western, Connacht, side of the town was intense, with over 60,000 shot fired into the town over a ten day period. One survivor described the scene, "with the balls and bombs flying so thick, that spot was hell on earth".
However, Ginkel identified another crossing upriver and sent an elite grenadier force, 2,000 strong, to cross there and attack the Jacobite positions from the rear. The grenadiers manned the town's west-facing ramparts and held off Jacobite counter-attacks until the main Williamite force could be brought up.
After this, the Jacobite garrison, who had been awaiting reinforcement from the main Jacobite force advancing from Limerick
Limerick
Limerick is the third largest city in the Republic of Ireland, and the principal city of County Limerick and Ireland's Mid-West Region. It is the fifth most populous city in all of Ireland. When taking the extra-municipal suburbs into account, Limerick is the third largest conurbation in the...
, hastily abandoned their positions in Athlone.
Ginkel and the Williamites went on to march on Limerick. On the march they were confronted by the main Jacobite army at the Battle of Aughrim
Battle of Aughrim
The Battle of Aughrim was the decisive battle of the Williamite War in Ireland. It was fought between the Jacobites and the forces of William III on 12 July 1691 , near the village of Aughrim in County Galway....
and the Williamites inflicted a crushing defeat on them — effectively ending Jacobite resistance in Ireland.