Godert de Ginkel Athlone, 1st12 July 1691
13 July.
Netherlands · Warfare / English Succession War. Chronological records rendered directly from the World History Database.
13 July.
A stunning defeat of the fleeing Franco-Irish followed in the confusion and darkness, with some 4000 corpses left on the field. Having strengthened the fortifications of Athlone and having left a garrison there, Ginkel leads the English to Aughrim.
An immediate attack was resolved on, and, after a severe and at one time doubtful contest, the crisis was precipitated by the fall of the Franco-Irish leader, the French General Charles Chalmont, Marquis de St Ruth, after which his disorganized forces fled in the ensuing darkness of the early-morning of
As St Ruth tried to rally his cavalry on the left to counter-attack and drive the Williamite horse back, he was decapitated by a cannon ball, at this point, the Jacobite position collapsed very quickly
Both armies were about 20,000 men strong, the soldiers of St Ruth's army were mostly Irish Catholic, while Ginkel's were English, Scottish, Danish, Dutch and French Huguenot (members of William IIIs League of Augsburg) and Ulster Protestants.
Defeats the Irish Jacobites, the Battle of Aughrim all but decides the war in the Williamite favour.
Ginkel marched through Ballinasloe, on the main road towards Limerick and Galway, before he found his way blocked by St Ruth's army at Aughrim on the 12th of July 1691.
Godert de Ginkell, the Williamites Dutch general, had breached the Jacobite line of defence by crossing the Shannon at Athlone - taking the town after a bloody siege.
The Battle of Aughrim all but decided the war in the Williamites favour.
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