Battle of Kollum facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Battle of Kollum
Part of the Eighty Years' War & the Anglo–Spanish War
Date 19 July 1581 Location Kollum (present-day the Netherlands) Result Anglo-Dutch victory
Belligerents
England Dutch Rebels	Spain
Commanders and leaders
John Norreys Diederik Sonoy	George van Lalaing
Strength
4,000	5,000
Casualties and losses
Light	700 killed, wounded, or captured

The Battle of Kollum was an important fight that happened on July 16, 1581. It was part of two bigger wars: the Eighty Years' War and the Anglo–Spanish War. This battle took place in Kollum, which is now in the Netherlands.

In this battle, English and Dutch soldiers fought together. They were led by John Norreys and Diederik Sonoy. They faced a Spanish army led by George van Lalaing, who was also known as the Count of Rennenberg. The English and Dutch forces won the battle. Sadly, Rennenberg was already sick and died just two days after his army's defeat.

Why the Battle of Kollum Happened

This battle was part of a long conflict called the Eighty Years' War. This war was fought between the Netherlands and Spain. The Dutch wanted to be free from Spanish rule. England often helped the Dutch in this fight.

The Count of Rennenberg's Change of Sides

In March 1580, a leader named George van Lalaing, the Count of Rennenberg, changed his loyalty. He had been fighting for the Dutch side, led by William the Silent. But then, he decided to support Spain instead. This made many Dutch people very angry. Some even left Rennenberg's side to join the Dutch rebels.

The Siege of Steenwijk

After switching sides, Rennenberg led his army to attack a town called Steenwijk. This was a siege, meaning his army surrounded the town to try and force it to surrender. However, an army of English and Dutch soldiers came to help Steenwijk. This relief army was led by John Norreys. They managed to defeat Rennenberg's forces at Steenwijk.

The Battle of Kollum

After their defeat at Steenwijk, many of Rennenberg's soldiers were sick. They were also very unhappy and wanted to stop fighting. They started to run away towards a city called Groningen. John Norreys and his army were chasing them closely.

A Surprise Attack

Rennenberg hoped to trick Norreys. He decided to turn his army around and face Norreys at Kollum. Norreys attacked almost right away. The Spanish forces were quickly pushed back. They ran all the way back to Groningen.

The Outcome of the Battle

The Battle of Kollum was a clear victory for the English and Dutch. The Spanish army suffered heavy losses. About 700 Spanish soldiers were killed, wounded, or captured. They also lost all their supplies and all four of their cannons. Rennenberg, who was too ill to lead his troops in the battle, died four days later in Groningen.

After the Battle

After Rennenberg's death, a new Spanish commander took over. His name was Francisco Verdugo. He soon attacked again at a place called Noordhorn. This time, in a big battle, Norreys and his army were defeated.