Hi everyone. My first post in this group.
One particular interest of mine is the Battle of Fontenoy, especially the Irish involvement. This battle, took place on 11 May 1745, during the War of the Austrian Succession 1740-48, in the Austrian Netherlands (now southern Belgium, not too far from the French border). On that day, six Irish infantry regiments (Clare, Lally, Bulkeley, Dillon, Rooth, Berwick) and one Irish cavalry regiment (FitzJames) formed part of the French army of Louis XV, which defeated the Pragmatic Allies of Britain, Hanover, Austria and the Dutch Republic. The Irish regiments played a substantial part in the French success at Fontenoy. There were also Irish fighting in the British ranks, so to an extent countrymen faced each other at Fontenoy (which wasn't unusual, as the Irish 'Wild Geese' often joined different European armies, and sadly and invariably often ended up fighting each other).
The victory at Fontenoy became a thing of legend in Ireland, with the country subject to the Penal Laws at the time, and entered into folklore. A century later, poems and literature were still being written about it, at a time of resurgent Irish nationalism. Unfortunately, today Fontenoy seems all but forgotten in the Emerald Isle, probably due to the passing of time as much as anything else. This is a pity. The 275th Anniversary of Fontenoy will occur in 2 months, on 11 May 2020.
Anyway, I've previously put together a website on Fontenoy and Irish involvement, which will continue to grow over time. As of now, it has (1) a Database of Irish participants who were (or may have been) at Fontenoy, with 300+ names; (2) a Roll of Irish Participants (giving greater detail on such persons); and (3) a Blog, which is a recent addition.
It can be read here: https://11may1745.wordpress.com
Hopefully it might be of interest to some of you.
Doug.
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Thank you for posting this. I did not see any of my families names on the list, though I know I have Wild Geese membership in my family's history. I thought it appropriate to drop Emily Lawless's famous "Fontenoy" poem. Slainte
Fontenoy, 1745 |
by Emily Lawless (1845-1913) |
Oh, bad the march, the weary march, beneath these alien skies, Oh, little Corca Baiscinn, the wild, the bleak, the fair! The wind is wild to-night, there's battle in the air; Hark, yonder through the darkness one distant rat-at-tat! 11. After the Battle; early dawn, Clare coast. "Mary Mother, shield us! Say, what men are ye, "Jesus save you, gentry! Why are you so white, "Cousins, friends, and kinsfolk, children of the land, Men of Corca Baiscinn, men of Clare's Brigade,
http://www.clarelibrary.ie/eolas/coclare/literature/fontenoy_1745.htm |
Thank you sir! I appreciate you excellent research, writing,and dedication. Looking forward to reading more.
Cheers!
Douglas
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