Caspar de Robles
Encyclopedia
Caspar de Robles or Gaspard di Robles (Madrid, 1527 - Antwerp, 1585) also known as Billy in Artois
, was Stadholder of Friesland
and Groningen
at the beginning of the Eighty Years' War (reign: 1568 to 1576).
, and João Lopes of Robles. In 1558 he married Jeanne de Saint-Quentin, baroness of Billy, and became owner of the castle and lands in Billy
in the County of Artois
south of Lille
.
On May 17, 1568 the Gers Harlin 1800 Walloon
soldiers under the leadership of De Robles moved to the Netherlands. Six days later he was defeated by Louis of Nassau
in the Battle of Heiligerlee
with the Spanish army of Jean de Ligne, Duke of Aremberg
who was killed. De Robles took part in the battle of Jemmingen
against the Dutch rebels led by Louis of Nassau
who only just managed to escape.
De Robles prevented the uprising of the Frisian cities which had limited defences.
He supported Fadrique Álvarez de Toledo
with slightly less than 1000 Walloon soldiers during the siege of Haarlem
. On or around May 23, 1573 he was slightly injured by a so called shot to the helm.
On November 1, 1570 Friesland was devastated by the All Saints Flood with almost the entire region flooded. Major damage and broken dikes were the results in the shattered state. Levee Repair was urgently needed, but the Frisians could not agree on costs. Thanks to the efforts of De Robles it was quickly agreed to close and strengthen the dikes (especially around Harlingen
). The dike route was divided into two parts. The northern part was maintained by the Inner Dijkers and the southern part maintained by the Outer Dijkers . When the work was done, was accused by the Inner Dijkers on the border frontier (terminus) issued. This frontier was a memorial pillar in honor of De Robles that came to be called the Stenen Man (Frisian: Stiennen Man). This memorial column on the Westerburcht Zeedijk south of Harlingen for many years marked the boundary between two water boards and is still open to visitors.
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De Robles was also responsible for the construction of the Kolonelsdiep between Bergumermeer and Briltil (west of Zuidhorn
). This linked Leeuwarden and Groningen by a secure land fairway. It took three months to build and was used for 400 years, being replaced in 1965 by a new dyke.
to charge for his work. In 1576 he went to Groningen in order to soothe feelings of the soldiers, but was captured by his own soldiers when Spain was declared bankrupt. That was the end of the power of Caspar de Robles in the north of the Netherlands.
Caspar de Robles died in 1585 at the Siege of Antwerp. During the siege the Spaniards had blocked the Schelde with a bridge of ships in order to starve the city. Dutch troops made several attempts to break through the blockade, but those attempts all failed. However, one of the attempts involved sending in two ships that were filled with gunpowder. The first ship exploded harmlessly against the shore, but the other reached the bridge and exploded with devastating force, instantly killing over 800 Spanish soldiers. Caspar de Robles was one of the casualties.
Artois
Artois is a former province of northern France. Its territory has an area of around 4000 km² and a population of about one million. Its principal cities are Arras , Saint-Omer, Lens and Béthune.-Location:...
, was Stadholder of Friesland
Friesland
Friesland is a province in the north of the Netherlands and part of the ancient region of Frisia.Until the end of 1996, the province bore Friesland as its official name. In 1997 this Dutch name lost its official status to the Frisian Fryslân...
and Groningen
Groningen (province)
Groningen [] is the northeasternmost province of the Netherlands. In the east it borders the German state of Niedersachsen , in the south Drenthe, in the west Friesland and in the north the Wadden Sea...
at the beginning of the Eighty Years' War (reign: 1568 to 1576).
Family
Robles was the son of Dona Maria de Leyte, probably the wet nurse for Philip II of SpainPhilip II of Spain
Philip II was King of Spain, Portugal, Naples, Sicily, and, while married to Mary I, King of England and Ireland. He was lord of the Seventeen Provinces from 1556 until 1581, holding various titles for the individual territories such as duke or count....
, and João Lopes of Robles. In 1558 he married Jeanne de Saint-Quentin, baroness of Billy, and became owner of the castle and lands in Billy
Billy-Montigny
Billy-Montigny is a commune in the Pas-de-Calais department in the Nord-Pas-de-Calais region of France.-Geography:An ex-coalmining industrial town situated just east of the centre of Lens at the junction of the N43 and D46 roads...
in the County of Artois
County of Artois
The County of Artois was an historic province of the Kingdom of France, held by the Dukes of Burgundy from 1384 until 1477/82, and a state of the Holy Roman Empire from 1493 until 1659....
south of Lille
Lille
Lille is a city in northern France . It is the principal city of the Lille Métropole, the fourth-largest metropolitan area in the country behind those of Paris, Lyon and Marseille. Lille is situated on the Deûle River, near France's border with Belgium...
.
Military life
Walloons
Walloons are a French-speaking people who live in Belgium, principally in Wallonia. Walloons are a distinctive community within Belgium, important historical and anthropological criteria bind Walloons to the French people. More generally, the term also refers to the inhabitants of the Walloon...
soldiers under the leadership of De Robles moved to the Netherlands. Six days later he was defeated by Louis of Nassau
Louis of Nassau
Louis of Nassau was the third son of William, Count of Nassau and Juliana of Stolberg, and the younger brother of Prince William of Orange Nassau....
in the Battle of Heiligerlee
Battle of Heiligerlee
The Battle of Heiligerlee was fought between Dutch rebels and the Spanish army of Friesland. This was the first Dutch victory during the Eighty Years' War....
with the Spanish army of Jean de Ligne, Duke of Aremberg
Jean de Ligne, Duke of Aremberg
Jean de Ligne, Duke of Arenberg was Baron of Barbançon, founder of the House of Arenberg and stadtholder of the Dutch provinces of Friesland, Groningen, Drenthe and Overijssel from 1549 until his death....
who was killed. De Robles took part in the battle of Jemmingen
Battle of Jemmingen
After the Battle of Heiligerlee Louis of Nassau failed to capture the city Groningen. Louis was driven away by Fernando Álvarez de Toledo, Duke of Alba and defeated at the Battle of Jemmingen on 21 July 1568.-Forces:The Spanish army consisted of 12,000 infantry , 3,000 cavalry, and some cannon...
against the Dutch rebels led by Louis of Nassau
Louis of Nassau
Louis of Nassau was the third son of William, Count of Nassau and Juliana of Stolberg, and the younger brother of Prince William of Orange Nassau....
who only just managed to escape.
De Robles prevented the uprising of the Frisian cities which had limited defences.
He supported Fadrique Álvarez de Toledo
Fadrique Álvarez de Toledo, 4th Duke of Alba
Fadrique Álvarez de Toledo y Enríquez de Guzmán, 4th Duke of Alba, Grandee of Spain, , , was a commander in the Spanish army during the Eighty Years' War....
with slightly less than 1000 Walloon soldiers during the siege of Haarlem
Siege of Haarlem
The siege of Haarlem was an episode of the Eighty Years' War. From December 11, 1572 to July 13, 1573 an army of Philip II of Spain laid bloody siege to the city of Haarlem in the Netherlands, whose loyalties had begun wavering during the previous summer...
. On or around May 23, 1573 he was slightly injured by a so called shot to the helm.
Civil achievements
Harlingen
Harlingen may mean:* Harlingen, Netherlands, a municipality and city in the province of Friesland* Harlingen, Texas, a city in the United States* Harlingen, New Jersey, an unincorporated village in Montgomery Township, New Jersey, United States...
). The dike route was divided into two parts. The northern part was maintained by the Inner Dijkers and the southern part maintained by the Outer Dijkers . When the work was done, was accused by the Inner Dijkers on the border frontier (terminus) issued. This frontier was a memorial pillar in honor of De Robles that came to be called the Stenen Man (Frisian: Stiennen Man). This memorial column on the Westerburcht Zeedijk south of Harlingen for many years marked the boundary between two water boards and is still open to visitors.
Zuidhorn
Zuidhorn is a municipality and a town in the northeastern Netherlands. Due to a municipal reoganisation in 1990, Zuidhorn was extended when it merged with, though not physically connected to Oldehove, Grijpskerk and Aduard. It is a pleasant town, which depends largely on the city of Groningen...
). This linked Leeuwarden and Groningen by a secure land fairway. It took three months to build and was used for 400 years, being replaced in 1965 by a new dyke.
Decline
Over the years, Caspar de Robles increasingly became hated by friend and foe. The Spanish soldiers were already behind a month's pay and were very dissatisfied and asked the Duke of AlvaFernando Álvarez de Toledo, 3rd Duke of Alba
Don Fernando Álvarez de Toledo y Pimentel, 3rd Duke of Alba was a Spanish general and governor of the Spanish Netherlands , nicknamed "the Iron Duke" in the Low Countries because of his harsh and cruel rule there and his role in the execution of his political opponents and the massacre of several...
to charge for his work. In 1576 he went to Groningen in order to soothe feelings of the soldiers, but was captured by his own soldiers when Spain was declared bankrupt. That was the end of the power of Caspar de Robles in the north of the Netherlands.
Caspar de Robles died in 1585 at the Siege of Antwerp. During the siege the Spaniards had blocked the Schelde with a bridge of ships in order to starve the city. Dutch troops made several attempts to break through the blockade, but those attempts all failed. However, one of the attempts involved sending in two ships that were filled with gunpowder. The first ship exploded harmlessly against the shore, but the other reached the bridge and exploded with devastating force, instantly killing over 800 Spanish soldiers. Caspar de Robles was one of the casualties.
Books
- J. Sevenster: De stenen man : Caspar de Robles, stadhouder van Friesland, Groningen en Ommelanden van 1572-1576 ISBN 9060664531 published A.J. Osinga, Leeuwarden, c1985