Francisco Verdugo
Encyclopedia
Francisco Verdugo, Spanish military commander in the Dutch Revolt
, born in 1537 in (Talavera de la Reina, province of Toledo
, died in Luxembourg
, 1595), became Maestre de Campo General, (a type of Field Marshal
) in the Spanish Netherlands.
He has been described as a brave, courteous and very experienced soldier, who rose from the rank of musketter, which he held at the siege of Haarlem
, to the governor of Frisia
.
When he was 20 he participated in the Battle of Saint-Quentin
in August 1557.
Nominated Governor of Haarlem
in 1573, as an Admiral of the Spanish Fleet he helped to conquer Flanders. In 1576, he became Councilor of State for several of the Flemish territories.
After the arrival in Brussels
in 1577 of Juan of Austria, (1547–1578, aged 31), the half brother of King Philip II of Spain
, religious Catholic zealots were kept at bay and Verdugo was promoted to Governor of Breda
, and later of Thionville
and Namur
. He married in 1578, aged 41, Dorothea von Mansfeld, one of the daughters of Graf, or Count, Ernst von Mansfeld
, (1517–1604) being thus the brother in law of his famous bastard son and brother Ernst von Mansfeld
, (1580 - Rakovica, near Sarajevo, present day Bosnia, November 29, 1626).
In 1581 he was a Governor and Captain General of the Dutch province of Frisia
, also known as Friesland. In 1586 he successfully commanded Spanish forces at the Battle of Zutphen
.
Francisco Verdugo died on 22 September 1595, and is buried in the Convent of Sancti Spiritus, (Orden de Santa Clara), in Luxembourg.
Dutch Revolt
The Dutch Revolt or the Revolt of the Netherlands This article adopts 1568 as the starting date of the war, as this was the year of the first battles between armies. However, since there is a long period of Protestant vs...
, born in 1537 in (Talavera de la Reina, province of Toledo
Toledo (province)
Toledo is a province of central Spain, in the western part of the autonomous community of Castile-La Mancha. It is bordered by the provinces of Madrid, Cuenca, Ciudad Real, Badajoz, Cáceres, and Ávila....
, died in Luxembourg
Luxembourg
Luxembourg , officially the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg , is a landlocked country in western Europe, bordered by Belgium, France, and Germany. It has two principal regions: the Oesling in the North as part of the Ardennes massif, and the Gutland in the south...
, 1595), became Maestre de Campo General, (a type of Field Marshal
Field Marshal
Field Marshal is a military rank. Traditionally, it is the highest military rank in an army.-Etymology:The origin of the rank of field marshal dates to the early Middle Ages, originally meaning the keeper of the king's horses , from the time of the early Frankish kings.-Usage and hierarchical...
) in the Spanish Netherlands.
He has been described as a brave, courteous and very experienced soldier, who rose from the rank of musketter, which he held at 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...
, to the governor of Frisia
Frisia
Frisia is a coastal region along the southeastern corner of the North Sea, i.e. the German Bight. Frisia is the traditional homeland of the Frisians, a Germanic people who speak Frisian, a language group closely related to the English language...
.
When he was 20 he participated in the Battle of Saint-Quentin
Battle of St. Quentin (1557)
The Battle of Saint-Quentin of 1557 was fought during the Franco-Habsburg War . The Spanish, who had regained the support of the English, won a significant victory over the French at Saint-Quentin, in northern France.- Battle :...
in August 1557.
Nominated Governor of Haarlem
Haarlem
Haarlem is a municipality and a city in the Netherlands. It is the capital of the province of North Holland, the northern half of Holland, which at one time was the most powerful of the seven provinces of the Dutch Republic...
in 1573, as an Admiral of the Spanish Fleet he helped to conquer Flanders. In 1576, he became Councilor of State for several of the Flemish territories.
After the arrival in Brussels
Brussels
Brussels , officially the Brussels Region or Brussels-Capital Region , is the capital of Belgium and the de facto capital of the European Union...
in 1577 of Juan of Austria, (1547–1578, aged 31), the half brother of King Philip II of Spain
Philip 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....
, religious Catholic zealots were kept at bay and Verdugo was promoted to Governor of Breda
Breda
Breda is a municipality and a city in the southern part of the Netherlands. The name Breda derived from brede Aa and refers to the confluence of the rivers Mark and Aa. As a fortified city, the city was of strategic military and political significance...
, and later of Thionville
Thionville
Thionville , is a commune in the Moselle department in Lorraine in north-eastern France. The city is located on the left bank of the river Moselle, opposite its suburb Yutz.-Demographics:...
and Namur
Namur (city)
Namur is a city and municipality in Wallonia, in southern Belgium. It is both the capital of the province of Namur and of Wallonia....
. He married in 1578, aged 41, Dorothea von Mansfeld, one of the daughters of Graf, or Count, Ernst von Mansfeld
Ernst von Mansfeld
Ernst, Graf von Mansfeld , was a German military commander during the early years of the Thirty Years' War.-Biography:...
, (1517–1604) being thus the brother in law of his famous bastard son and brother Ernst von Mansfeld
Ernst von Mansfeld
Ernst, Graf von Mansfeld , was a German military commander during the early years of the Thirty Years' War.-Biography:...
, (1580 - Rakovica, near Sarajevo, present day Bosnia, November 29, 1626).
In 1581 he was a Governor and Captain General of the Dutch province of Frisia
Frisia
Frisia is a coastal region along the southeastern corner of the North Sea, i.e. the German Bight. Frisia is the traditional homeland of the Frisians, a Germanic people who speak Frisian, a language group closely related to the English language...
, also known as Friesland. In 1586 he successfully commanded Spanish forces at the Battle of Zutphen
Battle of Zutphen
The Battle of Zutphen was a confrontation of the Eighty Years' War on 22 September 1586, near Zutphen , the Netherlands. It was fought between forces of the United Provinces of the Netherlands, aided by the English, against the Spanish, who sought to regain the northern Netherlands.Important...
.
Francisco Verdugo died on 22 September 1595, and is buried in the Convent of Sancti Spiritus, (Orden de Santa Clara), in Luxembourg.