The Irish Brigade was a Spanish military unit that was formed out of Irish emigres from Great Britain. The brigade consisted of men who had nothing to lose but their lives, and made fortunes as "Wild Geese" that fought for the Kingdom of Spain and New Spain.
History[]
The Irish started emigrating from Ireland to other countries after the Williamite War of 1689-1692, in which William III of Britain cracked down on the Jacobite supporters of James II of Britain. The Irish found themselves in the Regiments Etrangers in the French army and other sorts of foreign legions, but some of these "Wild Geese" joined the Spanish army in the Irish Brigade. The Irish were recruited in units of compatriots led by Spanish officers, who either spoke English or taught his men Spanish. The Irish brigades would fight not only in the War of the Spanish Succession, but also in the War of the Austrian Succession and Seven Years War. Irish Brigades also served in the army of New Spain.
