Siege of Jülich
Encyclopedia
The Siege of Jülich was a siege that took place between September 5 1621 and February 3 1622, during the Palatinate campaign
of the Thirty Years' War. After five months of siege the Spanish
army under Ambrosio Spinola took the Dutch-occupied fortress of Jülich, compelling its garrison to surrender.
along with Rheinberg
and Orsoy gave Spain three major Rhine crossings, reopening communications with the other garrisons east of the IJssel that had been cut by Dutch intervention in 1610. Though reinforced, the Dutch garrison in Jülich was now isolated and the Republic's gains were less significant.
Maurits of Nassau had taken the Rhine crossing of Emmerich in Cleves, as well as most of the towns in the County of Mark. He went on to build a new fort between Bonn and the city of Cologne, satirically called Pfaffenmütze (Priest's Cap) to overawe the Elector. Nonetheless, his positions were outflanked by Spanish troops to either side. Both Spain and the Dutch had become involved in the Jülich crisis against their will, and though they extracted rewards, they showed little desire to fight. The rival garrisons avoided confrontation until after the Truce expired in April 1621.
After the Twelve Years' Truce
, a crisis subsided between the Spanish and Dutch forces. On 5 April 1616, it was reported that the Spanish under Don Luis de Velasco
and Count Hendrik van den Bergh
, had concentrated some 7,000 infantry and a strong force of cavalry in the area between Rheinberg and Wesel, and that Spínola was expected to attack. Some of those present suggested the Spaniards were preparing to invade the county of Ravensberg, some that the Spaniards intended to seize Essen
or Bocholt
, others that the plan was to attack Borculo
. Thus, the Dutch garrisons in Cleves, at Emmerich and Rees, were reinforced.
When the Spanish-Dutch war resumed in 1621, the Spaniards launched their opening offensive in the Lower Rhine region of Germany. While Spínola positioned himself with one army at Wesel to block Maurits´ path, a second army, under Van den Bergh, of some 12,000 men, was sent to clear the Dutch garrisons from the Duchy of Jülich
. After capturing the castle at Rheydt
, near Mônchengladbach, and other places in their path, the Spaniards laid siege to Jülich in September 1621. Aware that the garrison's supplies were low, Van den Bergh simply blockaded the town without engaging in much fighting.
In line with her instructions to appoint Spaniards rather than Netherlanders as military governors of towns conquered from the Dutch, the Archduchess Isabella named Don Diego de Salcedo, reportedly a persona de muy buenas partes as governor of Jülich.
Palatinate campaign
The Palatinate Campaign or the Spanish conquest of the Palatinate, were a series of sieges, battles and conquests of the Bohemian Revolt in the Thirty Years' War, that were carried out by Spain's Tercios of the Army of Flanders, under Don Ambrosio Spinola, and the Spanish-Imperial troops under the...
of the Thirty Years' War. After five months of siege the Spanish
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
army under Ambrosio Spinola took the Dutch-occupied fortress of Jülich, compelling its garrison to surrender.
Background and first operations
Spanish intervention significantly enhanced its strategic position in north-west Europe, securing 10 Cleves towns, 28 in Jülich and 24 in Berg and Mark. The capture of WeselWesel
Wesel is a city in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. It is the capital of the Wesel district.-Division of the town:Suburbs of Wesel include Lackhausen, Obrighoven, Ginderich, Feldmark,Fusternberg, Büderich, Flüren and Blumenkamp.-History:...
along with Rheinberg
Rheinberg
Rheinberg is a town in the district of Wesel, in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. It is situated on the left bank of the Rhine, approx. north of Moers and south of Wesel....
and Orsoy gave Spain three major Rhine crossings, reopening communications with the other garrisons east of the IJssel that had been cut by Dutch intervention in 1610. Though reinforced, the Dutch garrison in Jülich was now isolated and the Republic's gains were less significant.
Maurits of Nassau had taken the Rhine crossing of Emmerich in Cleves, as well as most of the towns in the County of Mark. He went on to build a new fort between Bonn and the city of Cologne, satirically called Pfaffenmütze (Priest's Cap) to overawe the Elector. Nonetheless, his positions were outflanked by Spanish troops to either side. Both Spain and the Dutch had become involved in the Jülich crisis against their will, and though they extracted rewards, they showed little desire to fight. The rival garrisons avoided confrontation until after the Truce expired in April 1621.
After the Twelve Years' Truce
Twelve Years' Truce
The Twelve Years' Truce was the name given to the cessation of hostilities between the Habsburg rulers of Spain and the Southern Netherlands and the Dutch Republic as agreed in Antwerp on 9 April 1609. It was a watershed in the Eighty Years' War, marking the point from which the independence of the...
, a crisis subsided between the Spanish and Dutch forces. On 5 April 1616, it was reported that the Spanish under Don Luis de Velasco
Luis de Velasco
Luís de Velasco was the second viceroy of New Spain during the Spanish colonization of the Americas in the mid-sixteenth century....
and Count Hendrik van den Bergh
Hendrik van den Bergh (count)
Hendrik, count van den Bergh , lord of Stevensweert, was a Dutch soldier in Spanish service during the Eighty Years' War and stadhouder of Spanish Upper Guelders.-Life:...
, had concentrated some 7,000 infantry and a strong force of cavalry in the area between Rheinberg and Wesel, and that Spínola was expected to attack. Some of those present suggested the Spaniards were preparing to invade the county of Ravensberg, some that the Spaniards intended to seize Essen
Essen
- Origin of the name :In German-speaking countries, the name of the city Essen often causes confusion as to its origins, because it is commonly known as the German infinitive of the verb for the act of eating, and/or the German noun for food. Although scholars still dispute the interpretation of...
or Bocholt
Bocholt
There are two towns called Bocholt:* Bocholt, Germany* Bocholt, Belgium...
, others that the plan was to attack Borculo
Borculo
Borculo is a former municipality and a village in the eastern Netherlands, in the Province of Gelderland.On January first 2005 the municipality Borculo merged with the municipalities of Eibergen, Neede and Ruurlo into the municipality of Berkelland....
. Thus, the Dutch garrisons in Cleves, at Emmerich and Rees, were reinforced.
When the Spanish-Dutch war resumed in 1621, the Spaniards launched their opening offensive in the Lower Rhine region of Germany. While Spínola positioned himself with one army at Wesel to block Maurits´ path, a second army, under Van den Bergh, of some 12,000 men, was sent to clear the Dutch garrisons from the Duchy of Jülich
Duchy of Jülich
The Duchy of Jülich comprised a state within the Holy Roman Empire from the 11th to the 18th centuries. The duchy lay left of the Rhine river between the Electorate of Cologne in the east and the Duchy of Limburg in the west. It had territories on both sides of the river Rur, around its capital...
. After capturing the castle at Rheydt
Rheydt
Rheydt is a borough of the German city Mönchengladbach, located in the west of North Rhine-Westphalia. Until 1918 and then again from 1933 through 1975 it was an independent city....
, near Mônchengladbach, and other places in their path, the Spaniards laid siege to Jülich in September 1621. Aware that the garrison's supplies were low, Van den Bergh simply blockaded the town without engaging in much fighting.
Siege of Jülich
After five months of siege the defenders, some 3,000 men, surrendered on February 3. The Cardinal de la Cueva in Brussels reported to the king that 'han sentido mucho olandeses la perdida de Juliers' (The Dutch greatly regret the loss of Jülich).In line with her instructions to appoint Spaniards rather than Netherlanders as military governors of towns conquered from the Dutch, the Archduchess Isabella named Don Diego de Salcedo, reportedly a persona de muy buenas partes as governor of Jülich.