1688 invasion of England

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The 1688 invasion of England by William of Orange was a large-scale military operation mounted by the Dutch Republic to secure England as an ally against France in the coming Nine Years' War. Although framed as a defence of English liberties, the expedition was planned primarily to prevent an Anglo-French alignment and avoid a repeat of the crisis of 1672. With an invitation from seven prominent Englishmen providing political cover, William assembled one of the largest fleets in European history, carrying an experienced and well-equipped army to England in November 1688. The Royal Navy attempted to intercept the invasion fleet, but was outnumbered and hampered by adverse winds, allowing the Dutch to land at Torbay largely unopposed. The subsequent land campaign was marked more by desertion and the political collapse of James II's regime than by major fighting. James's retreat from Salisbury surrendered the strategic initiative to William, while his eventual flight to France allowed Dutch...

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