Kingdom Overthrown

Seventeenth century Europe was a theatre of almost endless rivalry and destruction, where wars of religion and dynastic succession wreaked havoc across the continent. This book tells the story of the Williamite War- in which Ireland became the unexpected stage for a truly European struggle. To the Irish officers who served in both armies, it was a fight for control of land, property, and influence. It was also part of a pan-European war that would have consequences across the continent; it saw the last ever confrontation on a battlefield between two claimants to the English throne- William of Orange and King James II- and featuring many intense and gruesome clashes including the siege of Derry and the battles of Aughrim and the Boyne. Providing the necessary historical context following Charles II's rise to power, the book then charts the central phase of the war, details the Williamite victory in Ireland, and outlines the social, political, and cultural consequences of the war. First-hand accounts of the soldiers and officers in both armies - collected from historical manuscript collections, copies of correspondence, and personal memoirs - give life and color to the narrative. Kingdom Overthrown is an accurate and human account of the most destructive conflict ever fought in Ireland. -- Publisher description