Gaspar de Robles facts for kids
Gaspar de Robles was an important leader from Spain. He lived from 1527 to 1585. He served as a governor, called a Stadholder, in the Dutch regions of Friesland and Groningen. This was during the early years of a big conflict known as the Eighty Years' War, from 1568 to 1576.
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Family Life and Connections
Gaspar de Robles was born in Madrid, Spain. His mother was Doña María de Leyte. In 1558, he married Jeanne de Saint-Quentin. She was the baroness of Billy. Together, they had a son named Jean de Roblès, 1st Count of Annappes. Their family became known as the Flemish branch of the Robles house. They also owned a castle and lands in Billy. Many important families, like the Dukes of Ursel, are descended from them.
Military Actions and Battles
In May 1568, Gaspar de Robles arrived in Harlingen with 1800 soldiers. These soldiers were called Walloons. Just six days later, he faced a defeat. This happened in the Battle of Heiligerlee. He fought against Louis of Nassau. The Spanish army leader, Jean de Ligne, also died in this battle.
After this, de Robles took part in another battle. This was the battle of Jemmingen. This time, his side won against the Dutch rebels. Louis of Nassau barely escaped. Because of his success, de Robles became the governor, or Stadholder, of Friesland. He helped stop cities in Friesland from rebelling. Later, he supported Fadrique Álvarez de Toledo. He brought 1000 Walloon soldiers to help during the siege of Haarlem. In May 1573, he was slightly hurt by a musket shot during this siege.
Helping the People: Civil Achievements
On November 1, 1570, a terrible event happened. A huge flood, called the All Saints Flood, hit Friesland. Almost the entire region was covered in water. Many dikes were broken, causing massive damage. Fixing these dikes was very important. However, the people of Friesland could not agree on how to pay for the repairs.
Thanks to Gaspar de Robles's efforts, an agreement was quickly reached. They decided to close and strengthen the dikes. This was especially important around Harlingen. The work was split into two parts. The northern part was handled by the 'Inner Dijkers'. The southern part was handled by the 'Outer Dijkers'.
When the work was finished, the Inner Dijkers built a monument. It marked the border of their territory. They chose to build a pillar to honor De Robles. This monument became known as the Stenen Man (which means Stone Man). This stone column is located south of Harlingen. For many years, it marked the boundary between the two water boards. You can still visit it today.
De Robles also oversaw the building of a canal. It was called the Kolonelsdiep (Colonel's Deep). It was named after him. This canal connected Bergumermeer and Briltil. It created a safe water route between Leeuwarden and Groningen. It took only three months to build. This canal was used for 400 years. A new canal replaced it in 1965.
The End of His Power
Over time, Gaspar de Robles became less popular. His Spanish soldiers were not being paid on time. They were very unhappy. He even asked the Duke of Alva for his own pay. In 1576, he went to Groningen to calm his soldiers. But his own soldiers captured him. This happened after Spain declared itself bankrupt. This event marked the end of Gaspar de Robles's power in the northern Netherlands.
Gaspar de Robles died in 1585 during the Siege of Antwerp. During this siege, the Spanish army had blocked the Schelde river. They used a bridge made of ships. Their goal was to starve the city. Dutch troops tried to break through this blockade several times. All their attempts failed. However, in one attempt, they sent two special ships. These were called fire ships. They were filled with gunpowder. The first ship exploded harmlessly. But the second one reached the bridge. It exploded with huge force. Over 800 Spanish soldiers were killed instantly. Gaspar de Robles was one of the people who died in this explosion.
See also
In Spanish: Gaspar de Robles para niños
