William of Orange Blessed by Pope?

[Jon_in_london]

Hello folks,

I recently heard what I beleive to be a rather unlikely story- that William of Orange (William III of England), was funded by and blessed by the pope prior to the Battle of the Boyne. I find this unlikely because William was a Protestant fighting against Catholicism on the continent while James II was very much a Catholic.

The major evidence for this so far is a rather unclear painting:

http://www.fantompowa.net/Flame/pope_cut_out_of_.htm

Does anyone know if their was indeed an alliance between William and the Pope against Louis XIV and James II?

Many thanks.

 

[kookbreaker]

As I understand it, they were Political allies. The Pope, along with Spain, was trying to fight French dominance of Europe. James II was very much a friend of the French, so the Pope aided William, despite the religious differences.

Some interesting Comments

 

[Shane Costello]

I learned that in school, way back! Whatever objections the Pontiff had to William's Protestantism paled in comparison to his anxiety about Louis IV's ambitions in Europe, although I believe the extent of the Pope's material aid was a few drummers at the Battle of the Boyne. I doubt very much that he actually gave William the benefit of a Papal blessing, but I do recall learning that bells rang out in the Vatican at the news of Williams victory at the battle of the Boyne.

Another interesting fact is that William of Orange was probably England's last gay monarch. Despite all this I don't foresee either Pope John Paull II or Peter Tatchell being guests of honour at Ian Paisley's next Twelfth of July shindig.

 

[diomedes]

I've been reading Thomas Babinton Macaulay's History of England, and I'm only as far as 1689 so I can't comment on the Battle of the Boyne itself, but it is true that there was a marriage of convience between William of Orange and Pope Innocent XI against Louis XIV, who was made pope against the wishes of the Sun King.

You can read about Innocent XI here.here.

 

[Jon_in_london]

I learned that in school, way back! Whatever objections the Pontiff had to William's Protestantism paled in comparison to his anxiety about Louis IV's ambitions in Europe, although I believe the extent of the Pope's material aid was a few drummers at the Battle of the Boyne. I doubt very much that he actually gave William the benefit of a Papal blessing, but I do recall learning that bells rang out in the Vatican at the news of Williams victory at the battle of the Boyne.

Another interesting fact is that William of Orange was probably England's last gay monarch. Despite all this I don't foresee either Pope John Paull II or Peter Tatchell being guests of honour at Ian Paisley's next Twelfth of July shindig.

Ah! but you had an Irish education. I heard it from a taxi driver in Belfast while doing a tour of the more "interesting" neighborhoods (the ones with murals on the walls metal plates over the windows).

He was hardly impartial, couldnt shut up about how nasty the British were and how militant and bigotted the Loyalists are and how warm and cuddly the provos are! So I was disinclined to believe much of what he said.

Turns out that bells were rung on the continent because the Boyne was the first victory of the League of Augsburg- it was actually a fairly insignificant battle and the sinking of the Anglo-Dutch fleet by the French a month later was slightly more important.

Also turns out that the original reason that the Orange Order march on 12th July is to celebrate the battle of Aughrim.....

Fascinating stuff!

 

[Shane Costello]

Originally posted by Jon_in_london:
Ah! but you had an Irish education. I heard it from a taxi driver in Belfast while doing a tour of the more "interesting" neighborhoods (the ones with murals on the walls metal plates over the windows).

He was hardly impartial, couldnt shut up about how nasty the British were and how militant and bigotted the Loyalists are and how warm and cuddly the provos are! So I was disinclined to believe much of what he said.

Warm and cuddly Provos? I reserve comment! BTW what were you doing in that part of town?

Turns out that bells were rung on the continent because the Boyne was the first victory of the League of Augsburg- it was actually a fairly insignificant battle and the sinking of the Anglo-Dutch fleet by the French a month later was slightly more important.

I don't know if you saw the "Battlefield Britain" special on the Boyne a few months, but it looked like a battle James II could have, and should have won. Such was the incompetance of James that he earned an uncomplimentary monicker from his disgruntled Irish subjects, Seamus an chach - "James the S***".

Also turns out that the original reason that the Orange Order march on 12th July is to celebrate the battle of Aughrim.....

Fascinating stuff!

That's news to me, especially since I was born, raised and currently write this a stone's throw from the battle site. But it turns out the Battle of Aughrim did indeed take place on the 12th of July. It was a larger and more decisive battle than the Boyne, but the significance of the latter lies in the fact that both kings were present. Local lore always had it that the Irish were winning until their French general St. Ruth was decapitated by a cannonball. To add a personal angle we bought our dog from the man currently resident in the house St. Ruth is supposed to have stayed in before the battle.