King William's Victory - Softcover

In the bloodless 'Glorious Revolution' of 1688, King James II, a Roman Catholic, lost the throne of England to his daughter, Mary, and her Protestant husband, William, Prince of Orange, at the request of parliament. After seeking refuge with Louis XIV of France, James, in 1690, with French aid and military support, saw an opportunity to strike back at William through Ireland. The two monarchs came face-to-face at the River Boyne (a few miles west of Drogheda), and the resulting battle is still celebrated (on 12th July) by Irish Protestants. Today, however, many people question the historical importance of the battle, claiming that it was little more than a minor skirmish with no real religious or political significance. They also deride William's role and expertise in defeating his father-in-law on that day. In this well-researched biography, Michael Sheane answers those questions and charts William III's life from childhood through to his victory at the Battle of the Boyne.

Michael Steven Sheane was born in England in 1947. He was educated at Larne Grammar School and Orange's Academy, Belfast, a mixed Protestant and Catholic college, and attended Trinity College Dublin. A man from Ballygally on the Antrim Coast, he now lives in Antrim. His hobbies include stamp collecting, photography and walking. He contributes to press, radio and television on Ulster affairs. He also writes for Ireland's Own, and now combines writing with business.