Rapparees were bandits in the unsettled southern counties of Ireland in the late 1600’s. Many began lives of banditry as political outlaws during the Williamite wars. These wars took place following the Glorious Revolution of 1688 and the elevation of William and Mary to the English throne. Some of the rapparees stole to survive. Others attacked only their Protestant opponents. Still others would attack anyone—Protestant or Catholic, English or Irish—who had something worth taking. See also England (The Restoration); Ireland, History of (The Williamite War).
