| Sarsfield rose to
fame as an Irish soldier in the army of the
Catholic King of England James II. In 1688 James
was replaced as King by William the Protestant
Prince of Orange and ruler of the Netherlands at
the request of political and religious leaders in
England. In
1689 James accompanied by Sarsfield came to
Ireland to enlist Irish support for regaining the
English crown. A year later Sarsfield commanded
the cavaly at the Battle of the Boyne only to see
James finally renounce his claim to the throne in
the face of defeat.
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The Irish army however,
lead by Sarsfield continued to resist the Williamites and
successfully defended Limerick after blowing up a convoy
of guns and supplies. For Sarsfield was created the Earl
of Lucan. Defeat came at the Battle of Gughrim in 1691
and for the second time he defended Limerick, this time
withour success. The war ended upon his surrender.
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