The Later Stuart Period

1660 to 1714

Battle of the Boyne

This illustration commemorates the defeat of King James II by his son in law, William of Orange, at the Battle of the Boyne in 1690. King James' plan to give power to the Catholics of Ireland came to an abrupt end when he was beaten by William of Orange, who was a protestant. William went on to rule England and Ireland with his wife Queen Mary until he died in 1702.

Battle of the Boyne

Battle of the Boyne

This illustration commemorates the defeat of King James II by his son in law, William of Orange, at the Battle of the Boyne in 1690. King James' plan to give power to the Catholics of Ireland came to an abrupt end when he was beaten by William of Orange, who was a protestant. William went on to rule England and Ireland with his wife Queen Mary until he died in 1702.

Enlarge image

Royal Hospital Kilmainham

This is a photo of the Royal Hospital in Kilmainham from its side. This hospital, known as the 'old man's hospital' was built in 1680 under Charles II by order of the Earl of Ormonde, the Deputy Governor. The hospital was so called because it was used mainly for old and maimed soldiers at the time. The grounds consisted of a few acres of the phoenix park where the hospitaller knights worked from their headquarters. These were an order of men consisting of physicians, warriors, philosophers and lawyers.

Royal Hospital Kilmainham

Royal Hospital Kilmainham

This is a photo of the Royal Hospital in Kilmainham from its side. This hospital, known as the 'old man's hospital' was built in 1680 under Charles II by order of the Earl of Ormonde, the Deputy Governor. The hospital was so called because it was used mainly for old and maimed soldiers at the time. The grounds consisted of a few acres of the phoenix park where the hospitaller knights worked from their headquarters. These were an order of men consisting of physicians, warriors, philosophers and lawyers.

Enlarge image

In May 1660 Charles II was proclaimed King in Dublin. The men who had organised Cromwellian Ireland thus restored to power the son of the Stuart king whom their party had beheaded only 11 years before. The new reign promised a period of some security. Dublin was adorned by new bridges, its castle was renovated and a great Royal Hospital was built at Kilmainham, on land granted by the king. Commerce began to thrive in the Irish ports and the houses of the nobility, such as the Duke of Ormond's castle at Kilkenny, were restored.

All changed in 1685 when Charles died and was succeeded by his younger brother James. Wherever possible there had been toleration of Catholic ways under Charles II: James II, a Catholic himself, now tried to reverse the Cromwellian settlement, to give power to the Irish Catholic aristocracy and to impose his will. Through forcing the issue he lost his throne. At the battle of the Boyne in 1690, James was defeated by his son-in-law, Prince William of Orange, who was to rule both England and Ireland jointly with his wife, Queen Mary, until her death in 1694, then as sole monarch until 1702. King William was succeeded by his sister-in-law, Queen Anne, who ruled as the last of the Stuarts until 1714.