Jan Jacobsen
Encyclopedia
Jan Jacobsen was a Flemish
naval commander and Dunkirker during the Eighty Years' War. He became a posthumous hero when, after battling an enemy fleet for over 13 hours, he destroyed his own ship
rather than surrender.
. On 3 October 1622 Jacobsen put out from Ostend
on his first expedition as a captain of one of the king's
frigate
s. His ship was part of a three-ship flotilla, with the intention of locating the Dutch Baltic convoy, accompanied by Spanish privateers Pedro de la Plesa
and Juan Garcia
. Jacobsen failed to elude the Dutch blockaders patrolling off the Flemish coast and was soon in a running battle with nine Dutch warships which was to last for thirteen hours. He disabled two of them before finally fought to a standstill with his mast, rudder and sweeps shot away.
The Dutch called upon Jacobsen to surrender and offered quarter, but, rather than let one of the king's ships fall into the hands of the enemy he exploded his powder store. In doing so he crippled the two Dutch ships alongside and caused considerable loss of life on board them but at the cost of destroying himself, his ship and much of what remained of his crew. Initial reports had Jacobsen putting the match to the powder himself, but at least one later account records that he had been shot through the thigh and gave the order to explode the powder store to one of his men. Surviving members of his 170-man crew that were picked up were hanged as pirates.
This incident was comparable to English admiral Sir Richard Grenville and the Revenge
and created a mystique around the Dunkirkers, and the figure of Jacobsen in particular, at the very beginning of the second phase (1621–1648) of the Eighty Years' War. The event was reported in contemporary newspapers, such as the Nieuwe Tijdinghen
printed in Antwerp, and was the subject of at least one contemporary ballad, Kapiteyn Jacobus, that likened Jacobsen to Samson
.
Flemish people
The Flemings or Flemish are the Dutch-speaking inhabitants of Belgium, where they are mostly found in the northern region of Flanders. They are one of two principal cultural-linguistic groups in Belgium, the other being the French-speaking Walloons...
naval commander and Dunkirker during the Eighty Years' War. He became a posthumous hero when, after battling an enemy fleet for over 13 hours, he destroyed his own ship
Ship
Since the end of the age of sail a ship has been any large buoyant marine vessel. Ships are generally distinguished from boats based on size and cargo or passenger capacity. Ships are used on lakes, seas, and rivers for a variety of activities, such as the transport of people or goods, fishing,...
rather than surrender.
Biography
He was the son of Admiral Michiel Jacobsen and great-uncle of Jean BartJean Bart
Jean Bart was a Flemish sailor who primarily served the French crown as naval commander and privateer.-Early life:...
. On 3 October 1622 Jacobsen put out from Ostend
Ostend
Ostend is a Belgian city and municipality located in the Flemish province of West Flanders. It comprises the boroughs of Mariakerke , Stene and Zandvoorde, and the city of Ostend proper – the largest on the Belgian coast....
on his first expedition as a captain of one of the king's
Philip IV of Spain
Philip IV was King of Spain between 1621 and 1665, sovereign of the Spanish Netherlands, and King of Portugal until 1640...
frigate
Frigate
A frigate is any of several types of warship, the term having been used for ships of various sizes and roles over the last few centuries.In the 17th century, the term was used for any warship built for speed and maneuverability, the description often used being "frigate-built"...
s. His ship was part of a three-ship flotilla, with the intention of locating the Dutch Baltic convoy, accompanied by Spanish privateers Pedro de la Plesa
Pedro de la Plesa
Pedro de la Plesa was a 17th century Spanish privateer. He served as a Dunkirker in the service of the Spanish Crown during the Eighty Years' War...
and Juan Garcia
Juan García (privateer)
Juan Garcia was a 17th century Spanish privateer. He was among a number of Spaniards who served the Spanish Crown as Dunkirkers during the Eighty Years' War. Both he and Pedro de la Plesa were caught by the Dutch Republic naval force as they attempted to break through a blockade of Dunkirk...
. Jacobsen failed to elude the Dutch blockaders patrolling off the Flemish coast and was soon in a running battle with nine Dutch warships which was to last for thirteen hours. He disabled two of them before finally fought to a standstill with his mast, rudder and sweeps shot away.
The Dutch called upon Jacobsen to surrender and offered quarter, but, rather than let one of the king's ships fall into the hands of the enemy he exploded his powder store. In doing so he crippled the two Dutch ships alongside and caused considerable loss of life on board them but at the cost of destroying himself, his ship and much of what remained of his crew. Initial reports had Jacobsen putting the match to the powder himself, but at least one later account records that he had been shot through the thigh and gave the order to explode the powder store to one of his men. Surviving members of his 170-man crew that were picked up were hanged as pirates.
This incident was comparable to English admiral Sir Richard Grenville and the Revenge
HMS Revenge (1577)
Revenge was an English race-built galleon of 46 guns, built in 1577 and captured by the Spanish in 1591, sinking soon afterwards. She was the first of thirteen English and Royal Navy ships to bear the name.Since she was built and served prior to the English Restoration of 1660, she did not carry...
and created a mystique around the Dunkirkers, and the figure of Jacobsen in particular, at the very beginning of the second phase (1621–1648) of the Eighty Years' War. The event was reported in contemporary newspapers, such as the Nieuwe Tijdinghen
Nieuwe Tijdinghen
Nieuwe Tijdinghen is the name cataloguers and bibliographers have given to the first Flemish newspaper, which was published without a single fixed title. News was printed from across Western and Central Europe....
printed in Antwerp, and was the subject of at least one contemporary ballad, Kapiteyn Jacobus, that likened Jacobsen to Samson
Samson
Samson, Shimshon ; Shamshoun or Sampson is the third to last of the Judges of the ancient Israelites mentioned in the Tanakh ....
.
Further reading
- Geyl, Pieter. The Netherlands in the Seventeenth Century. London: Ernst Benn Limited, 1964.
- Geyl, Pieter and Stanley Thomas Bindoff. The Netherlands Divided (1609-1648). London: Williams & Norgate, 1936.