Orange Order

The Orange Order (English Orange Order or Orange Lodge ) is an organization most radical Protestants in Northern Ireland, which has branches in Scotland and other regions within the Commonwealth and the United States. The Order is according to William III. named of Orange, the Catholic Stuart King James II and his Irish- Catholic army struck at the Battle of the Boyne in 1690. The Oraniertag is celebrated on July 12.

History

1795 the first Orange Order was founded to commemorate the victory of Protestantism and the assertion of claims of superiority over the Irish Catholics. In 1900 there were up to two-thirds of Protestants in Northern Ireland members of the Order. In the 20th century, the Order founded the paramilitary Ulster Defence Association ( Ulster Defence Association, UDA ). Around 2000 the Order had up to 80,000 members.

Leader of the Order ( Grand Master) in Ireland since January 2011, Edward Stevenson, who replaced the incumbent since 1996 Robert Saulters.

Historical Significance

Due to the ethnic division of the country social housing and jobs were awarded by the Order of Protestants in the big cities.

Origin of the name

The name of the Orange Order on William III. due of England. He descended from the House of Orange, whose house color is orange. For this reason, one of the primary colors of the Order is in the Netherlands ( also because of the Royal House of Orange ) popular Oranje.

Political significance

In Northern Ireland, you know the phenomenon of Marching Season ( German " marching season " ), in each year of the Battle of the Boyne on July 12, 1690 is commemorated. The Order shall perform removals which lead again through Catholic neighborhoods which always leads to bloody clashes.

After the police and military to protect up into the 1990s under the guise of the right to demonstrate and law and order, often sided with the Order, and later joined the attempt by de-escalation - for example by choosing other roadmaps - in the foreground. 2010 went from the violence of Protestant young people and members of the radical Ulster Freedom Fighters after the Northern Ireland authorities had prohibited marches through Catholic areas.