Battle of Kallo facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Battle of Kallo
Part of the Eighty Years' War
The Battle of Kallo. Oil on canvas by Peter Snayers.
Date 20–22 June 1638 Location Kallo near Antwerp, Spanish Netherlands (present-day Belgium) Result Spanish victory
Belligerents
United Provinces	Spain
Commanders and leaders
William of Nassau-Siegen	Cardinal-Infante Ferdinand
Strength
22,000 5,700-7,300 initially engaged	8,000–9,000
Casualties and losses
2,500 dead 2,370–3,000 captured	284 dead 822 wounded

The Battle of Kallo was a big fight that happened from June 20 to 22, 1638. It took place near Antwerp in what is now Belgium. This battle was part of the Eighty Years' War, a long conflict where the Dutch Republic fought for its freedom from Spain.

The Dutch wanted to capture the important city of Antwerp. They planned to attack it from two sides of the Scheldt river. Count William of Nassau-Siegen led a group of Dutch soldiers to land on the west side of Antwerp. His job was to take over some forts, like Kallo and Verrebroek. Meanwhile, Frederick Henry of Orange, the main Dutch commander, would attack from the other side. France, an ally of the Dutch, also planned to attack the Spanish from the south. This would make the Spanish army split its forces.

At first, the Dutch plan worked well. Count William's soldiers easily captured the forts of Kallo and Verrebroek. But they couldn't go any further. So, Count William dug in his troops and asked for more help. The Spanish governor, Cardinal-Infante Ferdinand, who was the younger brother of Philip IV of Spain, decided to strike back. He gathered his soldiers and launched a surprise attack on the Dutch on the night of June 20–21.

The Spanish attacked from three directions. They pushed the Dutch out of some smaller defenses, but couldn't take the two main forts. However, the Dutch soldiers were tired and running out of supplies. Count William decided to pull his troops back and get them onto boats. As they were retreating, Ferdinand launched a second attack. This caused panic among the Dutch, and they were completely defeated. Count William barely escaped with a few hundred men. Many others drowned trying to swim away or were captured by the Spanish.

This Spanish victory at Kallo, along with other successful defenses that year, showed that the Spanish soldiers were still very strong. It was also used by the Catholic side to spread good news about their cause. The battle was even featured in paintings, poems, and popular songs.

Background of the War

In May 1635, France declared war on Spain. French and Dutch armies tried to invade the Spanish Netherlands together. But their plan failed because they didn't have enough supplies. The Spanish army, with help from German soldiers, then went on the attack. They surprised the Dutch by taking a very important fortress called Schenkenschans. The Dutch managed to get it back after a long, hard fight. But this cost them a lot of money and soldiers.

By 1637, the French and Dutch were ready to attack again. This time, they decided to attack separately to make the Spanish divide their troops. France gave the Dutch a lot of money to help them. The Dutch army had 24,000 soldiers ready. Their main goal was to capture Dunkirk, a Spanish naval base. But the Spanish reacted quickly. So, Frederick Henry decided to attack Breda instead, a city that had been a great Spanish triumph to capture in 1625.

The Spanish army had many soldiers, but most were guarding cities. Only a smaller group was available for fighting in the field. While the Dutch were besieging Breda, the French armies attacked Spanish areas in the south. The Spanish governor, Ferdinand, had to send his troops to push the French back. Breda finally surrendered to the Dutch on October 10. This was a big disappointment for Spain's King Philip IV. However, the Spanish had captured other important Dutch forts, which helped them control the Meuse river. This meant the Spanish could now focus their forces on defending Antwerp and Flanders.

Spain wanted to make its army even bigger. They planned to send a lot of money and soldiers to the Netherlands. The Spanish king and his main advisor, Olivares, wanted to break the alliance between France and the Dutch. They thought about attacking France first. But their plans didn't work out because they didn't get enough soldiers, and the French and Dutch armies started their attacks earlier than expected.

In the Dutch Republic, Frederick Henry had to convince the government not to cut the army's size. He reminded them that French money depended on having a strong army. He also said that capturing Antwerp was important for the Dutch to benefit from their alliance with France and to make peace with Spain. So, in December 1637, the Dutch and French agreed on a new plan. Each side would send a large army. France would also give the Dutch more money. The Dutch agreed to attack a major city like Dunkirk, Antwerp, or Hulst. France promised to attack other Spanish cities or create a distraction.

Dutch Preparations and Landing

Map of the forts, dikes, flood lands, polders, canals and streambeds between Bergen op Zoom and Antwerp (1645).

Frederick Henry left The Hague on May 25. On June 1, he took command of the Dutch army. He sent some soldiers to guard the border. Then, he led the main army to Dordrecht, where they got on boats. These boats took them to Bergen op Zoom. Frederick Henry first thought about attacking Hulst. But the Dutch government convinced him to go for Antwerp instead.

To completely surround Antwerp, Frederick Henry sent Count William of Nassau-Siegen with about 7,000 foot soldiers and 300 horsemen. They got on 53 large boats and many smaller ones. These boats had been captured from the Spanish in 1631. Their mission was to land in the Waasland area, west of Antwerp.

Engraved portrait of Count William of Nassau-Siegen (1644).

The banks of the Scheldt river had many forts, which made the Dutch landing difficult. Frederick Henry told Count William to sail through flooded areas to an island called Doel. From there, they would go to the dike of Kallo. Guides were supposed to help them get to Kallo quickly. Once there, the Dutch soldiers had orders to capture the forts of Kallo and Verrebroek. They also needed to take over other important positions like Blokkersdijk and Burcht. After taking these places, they were supposed to break the dikes. This would flood the countryside and make it impossible for the Spanish to send help to Antwerp from the west. If they couldn't take Blokkersdijk and Burcht, William was to dig in his troops at the Kallo dike. Meanwhile, Frederick Henry would advance with the main army on the other side of the Scheldt. They would surround Antwerp from that side. Then, they would build a floating bridge across the river to connect with Count William's forces.

Count William left Bergen op Zoom on the night of July 13–14. They landed at Doel. From there, they moved through the flooded lands towards the Kallo dike. The water was very deep, sometimes up to their chests. They had to move four cannons on sleds. The dike was not guarded. However, the Spanish governor of Antwerp knew the Dutch were nearby. He had sent extra soldiers to guard the forts of Kallo, the Pearl, and Blokkersdijk. But the Dutch still surprised them.

They first captured a small fort called Steenland, which had only 15 soldiers. Then, Count William's force took a water lock between Steenland and Kallo. Here, they faced some resistance from 600 German soldiers and local fighters. But the Dutch drove them away and captured two cannons. Panic spread among the Spanish troops. The Dutch quickly took Kallo and Verrebroek with little fighting. William then tried to attack the nearby fort of Saint-Marie, but the soldiers there fought back and stopped him.

Spanish Reaction

The cardinal-infante Ferdinand, by an unknown Flemish artist.

When the Spanish governor learned about the lost forts, he asked for help from other garrisons. He also sent a message to Cardinal-Infante Ferdinand in Brussels. Ferdinand immediately went to Antwerp. He ordered troops from various garrisons to go to Antwerp. Other forces guarding the area between Ghent and Hulst were also called. Meanwhile, Count William, after being stopped at Saint-Marie, stayed put. He focused on making his captured positions stronger. Frederick Henry stayed with the main army near Bergen op Zoom. He sent officers to check William's positions, and they reported that the forts were very strong.

On July 15, with Ferdinand already in Antwerp, William noticed the Spanish gathering forces. He ordered his men to leave some outer defenses. That day, a small fight happened. The Spanish commander, the Count of Fontaines, set a trap for William. About 1,200 Dutch soldiers and some horsemen left their defenses to push away Spanish troops. But when they were far from their forts, 9 companies of Spanish horsemen attacked them. They caused many casualties. Count Maurice Frederick, William's only son, was killed in this fight.

After this skirmish, both sides stayed in their positions, firing cannons at each other. On July 18, William sent his half-brother, Henry, to ask Frederick Henry for food and gunpowder. His men were running out. On the same day, Ferdinand had finally gathered a large army. He held a meeting where they decided to launch a three-part attack the next evening. Their goal was to push out the Dutch and retake Kallo and Verrebroek.

Battle of Kallo

Battle Plan

Map of the Spanish assault upon the Dutch troops at Kallo and Verrebroek, 1638.

The Spanish battle plan was decided on July 18. Count Fuenclara would attack from the fort of Sint-Marie with his Spanish soldiers. The Marquis of Lede would attack from the Melsele dike with German and Italian soldiers. Andrea Cantelmo, the artillery general, would lead the third and main attack. This attack would be on the fort of Verrebroek. His group included Spanish, Italian, and Walloon soldiers, plus horsemen. In total, the Spanish had about 8,000 to 9,000 men. The Cardinal-Infante Ferdinand told his commanders to attack at the same time. This would stop the Dutch from sending help to different parts of their defenses. If the Dutch forts were too strong, they were to fortify the areas they captured and keep attacking with cannons.

The Dutch army had about 6,000 to 7,000 foot soldiers and 300 horsemen. They had soldiers from different regions, including Scottish, German, and Dutch groups. They also had 15 cannons. Count William was expecting more soldiers to arrive, but bad weather and strong tides stopped them from getting there in time.

The Fight at Kallo

The Spanish attack began at midnight on July 20. On the left side, Cantelmo's soldiers advanced along the Hulst dike. They pushed back the Dutch defenders, even though the Dutch fought hard. Cantelmo used a fire signal to tell another commander to attack from a different dike. This was to distract the Dutch. Two cannons fired at the Dutch defenses. The Dutch were pushed out of five small forts. But they fought strongly at a fort in front of Verrebroek. They stopped several Spanish attacks and caused many casualties. Cantelmo himself was lightly injured.

The Dutch soldiers fought back and pushed the Spanish battalions away. Cantelmo quickly ordered a new defense to be built. He also aimed his cannons at the Dutch horsemen, who had to hide. He ordered more cannons to be set up to fire at the Dutch from the side. Under heavy pressure, the Dutch soldiers left the Hulst dike. By 10 a.m., the Dutch still held the fort and two defenses in front of it. But they had lost all their other outer defenses.

Engraving showing the States' troops being routed by the Spanish, 1638.

On the right side, Count Fuenclara's Spanish soldiers attacked the Dutch defenses. By midday on July 21, they had pushed the Dutch out of their outer works. Count William's troops still held the fort of Kallo and a strong defense they had built in front of it. In the center, the Marquis of Lede sent soldiers through the marshes to attack the Dutch from the side. He also advanced with his German and Italian soldiers along the Melsele dike. They pushed the Dutch out of their first defense. But they couldn't take the second defense because its ditch was too deep. After twelve hours of fighting, the Spanish stopped their attacks to strengthen the positions they had taken.

Both sides had many casualties. Fuenclara's group had lost so many men that Ferdinand sent him more soldiers. The Spanish planned a second attack for the next night. Meanwhile, bad weather stopped Frederick Henry from sending help to Count William. William's troops were exhausted and in a hopeless situation. So, Count William ordered his men to get ready to leave.

On July 22, at 12 p.m., the Spanish advanced on the remaining Dutch defenses. They found them empty. At first, they thought the Dutch had just moved into the forts of Kallo and Verrebroek. But scouts reported that both forts were empty. Under the cover of darkness, the Dutch troops had quietly moved towards Doel. They were getting on their boats to cross the canal to the island. But the low tide and strong winds stopped them from escaping.

Soon, the Spanish spotted them. Cantelmo, Lede, and Fuenclara took control of the empty forts. Then, they sent their soldiers to attack the retreating Dutch from three sides. No soldiers had been left behind to cover the retreat. Panic spread among the Dutch troops. They broke ranks and rushed to get on the boats. Count William had already slipped away to Doel. His officers couldn't restore order. Hundreds of Dutch soldiers threw down their weapons and surrendered. Many others tried to swim across the canal and drowned.

The Dutch attempt to surround Antwerp from the west was a disaster. About 400 to 500 Dutch soldiers died during the fighting on July 19. Another 2,000 died trying to escape, many by drowning. The Spanish captured between 2,370 and 3,000 prisoners. This included two colonels and many other officers. They also captured over 50 flags, 19 to 26 cannons, and 81 boats. The prisoners were taken to Antwerp and other cities. Count William became ill from exhaustion and sadness after losing his son. The Spanish army lost 284 men and had 822 wounded.

Aftermath

News of the Spanish victory reached Antwerp early on June 22. The people of Antwerp were very happy. Many walked to Kallo to see where the battle happened. They brought back souvenirs, like orange garlands, which they put in the city's churches as trophies. Eight days later, the captured Dutch ships were sailed to Antwerp. A crowd of people watched them arrive. Many of these ships had been built in Antwerp before the Dutch captured them in 1631. A special church service was held at the Cathedral of Our Lady in Antwerp to celebrate the victory. Cardinal-Infante Ferdinand attended, and a crowd waited outside.

Map of the town of Geldern from the Atlas van Loon.

The defeat at Kallo greatly reduced the size of the Dutch army. To replace the losses, Frederick Henry ordered more soldiers to be gathered. In the south, the French army had left the siege of Saint-Omer. But they stayed in the area and captured smaller towns. While the Dutch remained quiet, the Spanish launched a surprise attack on a Dutch cavalry camp. But they were pushed back.

Frederick Henry then thought about attacking the Spanish in another area, near Gennep or Geldern. This would threaten other Spanish-held cities. The Dutch army left Bergen op Zoom on August 11. They arrived at 's-Hertogenbosch two days later. On August 14, Frederick Henry met Marie de' Medici, the exiled queen mother of France. He stayed to reorganize the army. On August 14, the Dutch troops headed towards Grave. Meanwhile, Count Henry Casimir advanced on Geldern with his soldiers and surrounded the town. Frederick Henry and his army joined the siege on the night of August 21–22.

Cardinal-Infante Ferdinand learned about the Dutch move. He left Brussels and ordered most of the Spanish forces to gather at Venlo. Cantelmo was left with 3,000 men to defend Antwerp. Ferdinand crossed the Meuse river on August 23 with 12,000 soldiers. Since Ferdinand wanted to help Geldern but the Dutch army was larger, he asked for help from other German troops. On August 25, these troops joined the Spanish army. As they approached, Frederick Henry ordered the siege to be stopped. The Dutch troops were caught between the Spanish relief force and the town's defenders. Six cannons and several hundred Dutch soldiers were captured. The Dutch army retreated. By early October, both armies went into their winter camps. Frederick Henry went to The Hague, and Ferdinand to Brussels. A final small operation happened when Spanish forces besieged Kerpen on October 18. This town was a piece of land belonging to Brabant but surrounded by another area. The Dutch had occupied it and were causing problems for trade. The 300 Dutch soldiers there surrendered on October 20.

By the end of November, talks began to rescue the Dutch soldiers captured at Kallo and Verrebroek. The Spanish released the prisoners after the Dutch paid a ransom. This ransom included two months' salaries for the captured troops, plus the cost of their upkeep. The Spanish tried to convince the German and Scottish soldiers to join their army, but few did. Many prisoners died during their time in prison because of the poor conditions.

Legacy of Kallo

Holy conversation with Ferdinand of Austria and the battle of Kallo.

The Battle of Kallo had a big impact in the Spanish Netherlands. Funny stories and poems about the battle, making fun of the Dutch, were quickly spread. One religious writer, Bartolomé de los Ríos y Alarcón, said that the Spanish victory was thanks to the Virgin Mary. He wrote a book about it and dedicated it to Cardinal-Infante Ferdinand. The book included poems describing the battle.

Paintings of the battle were also influenced by this religious idea. One engraving shows Ferdinand kneeling before Mary, with the burning battlefield in the distance. It was said that the Dutch Protestant soldiers had damaged religious images after taking Kallo. After the battle, a special group called the "Brotherhood of the Slaves of Our Lady of Victory" was founded at Kallo. They had a statue of the Virgin Mary. Many important people joined this group, including Ferdinand.

The Triumphal chariot of Kallo, by Peter Paul Rubens.

In Madrid, the Spanish king's advisor, Olivares, ordered a history book to be written about Spain's military successes in 1638. This included the Battle of Kallo and other victories. Another writer, Virgilio Malvezzi, also wrote about these successes. He said that 1638 was the most glorious year for Spain and that the victories were a sign of God's plan.

The Italian general Andrea Cantelmo, who was very important in the Spanish victory, asked the painter Pieter Snayers to paint a large picture of the battle. It shows the Spanish attacking the fort of Verrebroek in the front, and the fleeing Dutch soldiers and Kallo fort in the background. The battle is also mentioned in a painting by Jacob Jordaens called As the Old Sing, So the Young Pipe. It shows people singing a song called Een nieuw liedeken van Calloo (A new song of Calloo), which celebrates the Spanish victory.

The city council of Antwerp asked the famous artist Peter Paul Rubens to design a special parade float to celebrate the victory of Kallo. Rubens had designed decorations for Ferdinand's arrival in the city before. The float looked like a ship with a mast made of trophies. It had figures representing good fortune, wisdom, and courage, along with figures for Antwerp and Saint-Omer. Two figures of Victory held crowns, symbolizing the victories at Kallo and Saint-Omer. There were also chained Dutch and French prisoners. The trophies included armor, shields, weapons, and flags.

See also

In Spanish: Batalla de Kollum para niños

Images for kids

• 

  Engraved portrait of Count William of Nassau-Siegen (1644).