Five Regiments of Irishmen Sail for France and Form the Nucleus of Frances Irish Brigade

  • April 18, 1690

The Irish Brigade was a brigade in the French Royal Army composed of Irish exiles, led by Lord Mountcashel.

On April 18, 1690, the departure of an Irish Jacobite army had formed the French Irish Brigade, who are sometimes misdescribed as Wild Geese.

It was formed in May 1690 when five Jacobite regiments were sent from Ireland to France in exchange for a larger force of French infantry who were sent to fight in the Williamite War in Ireland.

The regiments comprising the Irish Brigade retained their special status as foreign units in the French Army until nationalised in 1791