The Siege of Derry is an important episode in the history of the city of the same name. It refers to the assault led by the Catholic King James II on the city of Derry, then under the control of the Protestant King William of Orange. The siege lasted 3 and a half months (from April 18, 1689 to July 30, 1689), and ended in defeat for James II. Sadly, the toll was terrible: it is estimated that over 8,000 Derry residents perished from starvation and disease. Today, the event is still widely commemorated by the Protestant Apprentice Boys of Derry, with parades held in full view of Catholics… This is not without its share of tensions within the town…
The year is 1688. At this time, the Crown of England was in turmoil. King James II (a fervent Catholic) is dethroned by William III of Orange (a fervent Protestant). Driven out, he took refuge in France, and consulted the French king Louis XIV, who would lend him a hand in regaining the English throne.
Meanwhile, in Ireland, the majority of the population remained in favor of James II. As a reminder, the Irish are essentially Catholic, and King James II consistently pursued a policy favoring this religious denomination… while the actions of William of Orange tended to repress them, to the benefit of the Protestants.
Irish Catholics also supported James II’s claim to the throne.
Louis XIV agrees to cede troops to James II, to help him regain his throne. The strategy was clear: James II intended to start his reconquest campaign in Ireland… and then pursue it in England…
James II commissioned Richard Talbot to travel to Ireland and take the country’s strongholds. The aim was to retake Protestant regions and bring them under the control of Catholic garrisons.
For this, Talbot focuses on the Province of Ulster, considered the Protestant epicenter of the island of Ireland (as a reminder, the region was home to countless Protestant plantations).
In November 1688, only the garrisons of Enniskillen and Derry were still predominantly Protestant. The order was then given to take Derry. The regiments are now approaching the city gates… But the Derry authorities have decided to close the gates, so the troops turn back, with the firm intention of trying their luck again soon.
On March 12, 1689, James II landed at Kinsale, accompanied by 6,000 French soldiers. He took Dublin, then headed north with an army of Catholic soldiers.
James II and his troops reached Derry on April 18, 1689. Determined to take the town, they set out to besiege the area and its 30,000 inhabitants, demanding their surrender.
In response, the Governor of Derry, Robert Lundy, shouted “No Surrender! (no surrender in French) and fired shots from bastion church in the direction of James II.
This action marked the start of the siege of Derry.
Within the town, Lundy is quickly challenged by the residents. Many are pointing the finger at his inability to manage the crisis. He was then forced to flee into the night, disguised as a simple soldier with a few faithful followers. He then set sail for Scotland, leaving Adam Murray in charge, a simple citizen of the town determined to refuse any surrender.
Meanwhile, James II returned to Dublin, leaving his lieutenant-generals Hamilton and Maumon to lead the siege of the city.
On April 24, Derry’s soldiers decided to attack and take possession of the Catholic position north of the city at Pennyburn Mill. This position was the scene of frequent clashes between the besieged and the attackers throughout the siege.
In May, the Catholics created a dam on the River Foyle to block Derry and prevent it from being supplied by sea. Within the city, famine raged. Inhabitants are forced to eat horses, dogs, cats and even mice. Malnutrition leads to deplorable sanitary conditions: diseases develop, and mortality soars.
But James II didn’t see it that way. He had asked his troops to be as humane as possible and preserve lives. But his lieutenants, tired of this arm-wrestling, decided to resort to more violence, convinced that this would enable them to obtain surrender more quickly.
On the evening of June 4, six bombs were dropped on the city, causing countless deaths.
Between July 14 and 19, 106 bombs were dropped on the city.
July 20, 1689 marked the end of the siege. The Protestant ships, loaded with ammunition and food, decided to break through the Catholic blockade. It’s a success: the city sees tons of food landing on its quays.
However, James II’s troops decided to continue fighting for 3 days… before resigning themselves to retreat on July 31, 1689.
Although the Siege of Derry is now several centuries away, the historical episode is still very much alive in the minds of Northern Ireland’s Protestant community.
The Apprentices Boys of Derry have made this battle their own. This victory over the Catholics was seen as a political symbol, which still resonates today, in a context where Northern Ireland is still subject to numerous tensions.
This Protestant fellowship organizes a full week of celebrations every year. They marched through the streets, sometimes provoking incidents with the Catholic Republican population. (The Battle of Bogside was launched following this march).
Today, there are fewer clashes, but the climate remains fragile.
A 29-metre column was also erected in the town in 1828 to commemorate the battle (mainly funded by the Apprentices Boys of Derry). A monument that was dynamited by the Provisional IRA in 1973.
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