1691; Limerick Castle.
General Sarsfield with his now, starving Irish forces still held within the walls of Limerick. demanded overall command from the two French officers.
Sarsfield considered the time was right to accept General van Ginkel's terms of honourable surrender. The conditions had been improved and would include all the besieged soldiers and the citizens of Limerick.
The Dutch General Van Ginkel In pardoning the soldiers, thought he could turn the surrender even more to his advantage. The Dutchman recognised the fighting ability of the Irish soldiers and thought they might be of use to him fighting in Europe under the flag of his master. King William III of England. (William of Orange).
Two Royal standards were raised, outside the gates of Limerick. One flying the English Standard of King William of Orange. The other the colours of French King, Henry IV. All military forces within the city received a stark choice. Stay within the walls and face execution. March out to the English Standard and secure the right to remain in Ireland as part of William of Orange’s armed forces. March to the left and the colours of King Henry IV, of France and face banishment from Ireland.
Fourteen thousand soldiers walked out of the gates. Only 1,044 lined up behind the English banner. The remaining 12,956 including the 27 Lacy's proudly marched to the French flag.
Sarsfield considered the time was right to accept General van Ginkel's terms of honourable surrender. The conditions had been improved and would include all the besieged soldiers and the citizens of Limerick.
The Dutch General Van Ginkel In pardoning the soldiers, thought he could turn the surrender even more to his advantage. The Dutchman recognised the fighting ability of the Irish soldiers and thought they might be of use to him fighting in Europe under the flag of his master. King William III of England. (William of Orange).
Two Royal standards were raised, outside the gates of Limerick. One flying the English Standard of King William of Orange. The other the colours of French King, Henry IV. All military forces within the city received a stark choice. Stay within the walls and face execution. March out to the English Standard and secure the right to remain in Ireland as part of William of Orange’s armed forces. March to the left and the colours of King Henry IV, of France and face banishment from Ireland.
Fourteen thousand soldiers walked out of the gates. Only 1,044 lined up behind the English banner. The remaining 12,956 including the 27 Lacy's proudly marched to the French flag.
General Van Ginkel was furious; he had underestimated the Irish loathing of the English King. However, as a man of honour, he allowed the French officers to commandeer 17 boats to take the Irish soldiers into exile in France.
Youngest among the Irish soldiers was 13-year-old Peter de Lacy. Ragged, emaciated, barefooted, but head still held high.
Youngest among the Irish soldiers was 13-year-old Peter de Lacy. Ragged, emaciated, barefooted, but head still held high.
“Off you go, boy.”
Jeered the onlooking British soldiers
“join the rag bag army of James. What a joke".
They did not know that the boy Peter de Lacy who they jeered at was to become
a Field Marshall that changed the face of Europe.
Jeered the onlooking British soldiers
“join the rag bag army of James. What a joke".
They did not know that the boy Peter de Lacy who they jeered at was to become
a Field Marshall that changed the face of Europe.
Count Peter de Lacy
Field Marshall, Supreme Head of the Russian Army. Governor of Livonia.
1678 – 1751 A claimant of direct descent from William Gorm de Lacy
Field Marshall, Supreme Head of the Russian Army. Governor of Livonia.
1678 – 1751 A claimant of direct descent from William Gorm de Lacy
Following their ‘Wild Geese’ exile to France 13-year-old, Peter (the ragged boy), his brother, and their father all enrolled in the Irish Brigade and received orders to proceed to Nantes and join the French army of Marshal Catinat.
The de Lacy family was part of the Irish Brigade in the Nine Year War of 1692 and fought at the Battle of Marsaglia near Turin in modern-day Italy. Unfortunately, the French casualties included Peter's father and brother, who died taking part in the first formalised bayonet charge. Peter was now encouraged by his commander Charles de Croy, to join with him in seeking their fortune in the Russian Army.
1700 Tsar Peter the Great led an alliance of several Countries during the Great Northern War against the might of the Swedish Army. Despite wounds on two separate occasions during the fighting. In 1706, Peter de Lacy rose to the rank of Colonel. In 1709 he was given the command of a brigade at Poltava in central Ukraine. Now, as Brigadier-General of the Russian right-wing at the battle of Poltava, General Peter de Lacy put to flight the Swedish army. Peter de Lacy helped gain the overall victory for Russia.
During 1709, his fame grew, and he was given control as Brigadier-General of the Russian right-wing at the battle of Poltava. General Peter de Lacy put to flight the Swedish Major General Carl Wrangeland and his army and the total defeat of Charles XII of Sweden. The Russian success was credited to Peter de Lacy, who now put to the Tzar radical ideas on improving the fighting ability of the Russian soldiers under his command. The Russian troops used to advance as in the past 'sword and shield' days. Line up at a distance, charge and engage. Their muskets often fired as soon as they charged, but they were more often still way out of range. Among other tactics, Peter de Lacy trained them to advance as a disciplined unit, discharging their muskets only on the line officer's order. Still under Prince Repnin, in 1710 at the siege of Riga. Peter de Lacy was the first Russian officer to enter Livland and was appointed the first Russian commander of Riga Castle.
Later in 1721, Peter de Lacy was made Governor of Livonia (parts of modern-day Latvia and Estonia). In 1723 de Lacy, he was appointed as a member of the Russian War Council, his advice on military discipline and training soon after being introduced throughout the whole Russian army. From having joined the Russian Army as an Irish mercenary recruit, Peter de Lacy had within 28 years risen to reform the entire Russian Army.
On receiving his invitation to the Coronation ceremony of Catherine I at Moscow in 1724, Peter de Lacy was delighted that he had a place of Honour. In the same year, he celebrated his marriage to Countess Martha Philippina von Loeser. In 1725, their son Franz Moritz was born in St Petersburg. Soon after the birth of his son, Peter became General-in-Chief of Infantry and was decorated with the Order of St. Alexander Newsky. Dispatched to Poland in October 1733, he entered Warsaw with thirty thousand men to establish Augustus of Saxony as the King in opposition to King Stanislaw. At an interview with the Emperor and Empress where the Emperor awarded Peter de Lacy with the patent of Field Marshal.
In 1741 Peter de Lacy received the supreme Russian command in the war against Sweden, from which he emerged victorious. Once peace was declared, throughout Russia news spread with this message
"It was Marshal de Lacy who taught the Muscovites to beat the King of Sweden and from being the worst in Europe to become the best soldiers in Europe."
Marshal Peter de Lacy retired from public life passing his remaining years on his estates in Livonia. He remained active as the Governor Of Riga till he died at Riga on May 11th, 1751; for a fortnight, the bells tolled while the city and province were in deep mourning for their beloved Governor.
Peter de Lacy was the first of many “wild geese” to be ennobled for their services to European countries
The de Lacy family was part of the Irish Brigade in the Nine Year War of 1692 and fought at the Battle of Marsaglia near Turin in modern-day Italy. Unfortunately, the French casualties included Peter's father and brother, who died taking part in the first formalised bayonet charge. Peter was now encouraged by his commander Charles de Croy, to join with him in seeking their fortune in the Russian Army.
1700 Tsar Peter the Great led an alliance of several Countries during the Great Northern War against the might of the Swedish Army. Despite wounds on two separate occasions during the fighting. In 1706, Peter de Lacy rose to the rank of Colonel. In 1709 he was given the command of a brigade at Poltava in central Ukraine. Now, as Brigadier-General of the Russian right-wing at the battle of Poltava, General Peter de Lacy put to flight the Swedish army. Peter de Lacy helped gain the overall victory for Russia.
During 1709, his fame grew, and he was given control as Brigadier-General of the Russian right-wing at the battle of Poltava. General Peter de Lacy put to flight the Swedish Major General Carl Wrangeland and his army and the total defeat of Charles XII of Sweden. The Russian success was credited to Peter de Lacy, who now put to the Tzar radical ideas on improving the fighting ability of the Russian soldiers under his command. The Russian troops used to advance as in the past 'sword and shield' days. Line up at a distance, charge and engage. Their muskets often fired as soon as they charged, but they were more often still way out of range. Among other tactics, Peter de Lacy trained them to advance as a disciplined unit, discharging their muskets only on the line officer's order. Still under Prince Repnin, in 1710 at the siege of Riga. Peter de Lacy was the first Russian officer to enter Livland and was appointed the first Russian commander of Riga Castle.
Later in 1721, Peter de Lacy was made Governor of Livonia (parts of modern-day Latvia and Estonia). In 1723 de Lacy, he was appointed as a member of the Russian War Council, his advice on military discipline and training soon after being introduced throughout the whole Russian army. From having joined the Russian Army as an Irish mercenary recruit, Peter de Lacy had within 28 years risen to reform the entire Russian Army.
On receiving his invitation to the Coronation ceremony of Catherine I at Moscow in 1724, Peter de Lacy was delighted that he had a place of Honour. In the same year, he celebrated his marriage to Countess Martha Philippina von Loeser. In 1725, their son Franz Moritz was born in St Petersburg. Soon after the birth of his son, Peter became General-in-Chief of Infantry and was decorated with the Order of St. Alexander Newsky. Dispatched to Poland in October 1733, he entered Warsaw with thirty thousand men to establish Augustus of Saxony as the King in opposition to King Stanislaw. At an interview with the Emperor and Empress where the Emperor awarded Peter de Lacy with the patent of Field Marshal.
In 1741 Peter de Lacy received the supreme Russian command in the war against Sweden, from which he emerged victorious. Once peace was declared, throughout Russia news spread with this message
"It was Marshal de Lacy who taught the Muscovites to beat the King of Sweden and from being the worst in Europe to become the best soldiers in Europe."
Marshal Peter de Lacy retired from public life passing his remaining years on his estates in Livonia. He remained active as the Governor Of Riga till he died at Riga on May 11th, 1751; for a fortnight, the bells tolled while the city and province were in deep mourning for their beloved Governor.
Peter de Lacy was the first of many “wild geese” to be ennobled for their services to European countries
Marshal Franz Moritz Graf von Lacy
Son of Count Peter de Lacy Count of the Holy Roman Empire St Petersburg
Reformed the Austrian Army for which he received the Grand Cross of the Order of Maria Theresa, Austria's highest honour.
Oct 1725, – till Nov 1801, Vienna
Son of Count Peter de Lacy Count of the Holy Roman Empire St Petersburg
Reformed the Austrian Army for which he received the Grand Cross of the Order of Maria Theresa, Austria's highest honour.
Oct 1725, – till Nov 1801, Vienna
Field Marshall Luis Roberto de Lacy
Born; 1772, San Roque, Nr Cadiz
Hero of Spain
Died 1817, Palma, Majorca Posthumously created Duke of Ultonia.
Born; 1772, San Roque, Nr Cadiz
Hero of Spain
Died 1817, Palma, Majorca Posthumously created Duke of Ultonia.
Not all Irish de Lacy's descended from the 'Flight of the Wild Geese'.
General Sir George de Lacy Evans
Soldier, Member of Parliament.
County Limerick, 1787- 1870
Soldier, Member of Parliament.
County Limerick, 1787- 1870
Trance Atlantic Geese
James Horace Lacy
Plantation Owner. Virginia, USA.
Ellwood Plantation, Chatham Manor Plantation
1823-1906
Plantation Owner. Virginia, USA.
Ellwood Plantation, Chatham Manor Plantation
1823-1906
Captain Patrick DeLacy
Medal of Honor,
The Battle of the Wilderness, Virginia May 1864.
(November 25, 1835 – April 27, 1915)
Medal of Honor,
The Battle of the Wilderness, Virginia May 1864.
(November 25, 1835 – April 27, 1915)
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