The Irish Brigade of the French Army is formed

The Irish Brigade at the Battle of Fontenoy presenting captured British Colours to Louis XV and, beside him, his son the Dauphin (by Horace Vernet, 1828)

The Irish Brigade of the French Army was formed from five regiments of exiles sent from Ireland to France in return for French infantry support for James II against William of Orange. The following year, these regiments were joined by the Wild Geese led by General Lord Lucan, better known as Patrick Sarsfield.

Louis XIV once complained to the Colonel of the Irish Brigade that his men were the most boisterous and ungovernable of any in the French service. The Colonel replied:

"The truth of Your Majesty's observation is very clear and very generally acknowledged, for all your enemies say the same".

Some years later, after hearing of the losses inflicted by the Irish Brigade on British regiments during the War of the Austrian Succession, at the Battle of Fontenoy on 11 May 1745, King George II is reported to have commented:

"Cursed be the laws that deprive me of such subjects."