Patrick Sarsfield Is Mortally Wounded at the Battle of Landen

1st Earl of Lucan

Patrick Sarsfield, 1st Earl of Lucan, Irish: Pádraig Sáirseál, circa 1655 to 21 August 1693, was an Irish soldier, and leading figure in the Jacobite army during the 1689 to 1691 Williamite War in Ireland.

Exile and death

On arrival in France, Sarsfield became Major-General in the army of exiles, an appointment James made with great reluctance. In addition to other acts of perceived insubordination, Sarsfield allegedly told William’s negotiators at Limerick “change but kings with us, and we will fight it over again”.

After the planned invasion of England was abandoned in 1692, the exiles became part of the French army, and Sarsfield a French marechal de camp.

He fought at Steenkerque in August 1692, and was fatally wounded at the Battle of Landen in 1693, dying at Huy three days later. Despite several searches, no grave or burial record has been found, though a plaque at St Martin’s church, Huy, has been set up in commemoration.

Like much else, his reputed last words, “Oh that this had been shed for Ireland!”, are apocryphal.