Treaty of Limerick

The Treaty of Limerick, signed in 1691, concluded the Williamite War in Ireland. This conflict was part of a larger struggle between the deposed Catholic King James II and the Protestant King William III. Following William's victory at the Battle of the Boyne in 1690, James's remaining forces retreated to Limerick. After an unsuccessful siege by William's army, the Treaty of Limerick was negotiated.

The treaty granted certain rights to the Irish Jacobite army and Catholic population, including freedom of religion and the right to leave Ireland for France. However, many of these provisions were later disregarded, leading to a period of discrimination against Catholics in Ireland. The treaty effectively solidified Protestant control in Ireland and marked a significant turning point in the island's history, contributing to the eventual partition of Ireland and the establishment of the Irish Free State.1234