Battle of the Boyne 1690

The Blues were with William III’s army in Ireland in 1690 to fight the supporters of the deposed King James II. The painting, by Dutch artist Jan Wyck, is based on sketches by Dirk Maes, an eye witness to the Battle of the Boyne on 1 July 1690. This detail depicts William’s cavalry galloping into position. Although two of the officers wear red coats, the men are in blue, suggesting that these are men of the Earl of Oxford’s Royal Regiment of Horse. Previously, the regiment had been sent to northern Europe, fighting the French at Walcourt near Charleroi. They returned in May 1690, and that month embarked for Ireland. The battle on the Boyne, near Drogheda, was the first confrontation. The cavalry were commanded by Count Schomberg who was killed in the battle. But the regiment did not suffer heavy casualties and morale was raised as a result of William’s victory.

Regimental details