Siege of Breda (1624) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Siege of Breda
Part of the Eighty Years' War, Anglo-Spanish War and the Thirty Years' War
The Surrender of Breda by Diego Velázquez. Oil on canvas, 1635.
Date 28 August 1624 – 5 June 1625 Location Breda (present-day the Netherlands) 51°34′59.99″N 4°46′59.99″E / 51.5833306°N 4.7833306°E / 51.5833306; 4.7833306 Result Spanish victory
Belligerents
United Provinces England	Spanish Empire
Commanders and leaders
Maurice of Nassau Justin of Nassau Horace Vere Ernst von Mansfeld	Ambrogio Spinola Carlos Coloma
Strength
7,000 (Dutch garrison) 7,000 (Dutch relief force) 7,000 (English relief force)	18,000
Casualties and losses
10,000 dead, wounded or captured	3,000 dead, wounded or captured

The Siege of Breda was a major battle that took place from 1624 to 1625. It was part of the Eighty Years' War, a long conflict between the Dutch Republic and the Spanish Empire. During this siege, the Spanish army captured the important Dutch city of Breda.

Ambrogio Spinola, a famous Spanish general, led the attack on Breda. Even though the Spanish king, Philip IV, was worried about the cost of fighting too many wars at once, Spinola went ahead with the siege. Breda was a very strong city with good defenses and 7,000 soldiers ready to fight. The Dutch thought their city could hold out for a long time.

However, Spinola quickly surrounded Breda. He also stopped two different groups of Dutch and English soldiers from helping the city. After nine months of fighting, the Dutch commander, Justin of Nassau, had to give up. Only a small number of Dutch and English soldiers survived.

This victory was a huge success for Spinola and one of Spain's last big wins in the Eighty Years' War. The Spanish wanted to cut off the Dutch Republic from its trade routes. Later, in 1637, the Dutch took Breda back. Finally, in 1648, Breda officially became part of the Dutch Republic after the wars ended.

Why the Siege Happened

There were several important reasons why the Spanish army decided to attack Breda.

Protecting Spanish Lands

• Breda was often used by the Dutch as a base to attack nearby Spanish lands. Capturing Breda would help protect these areas.
• It would also make it easier for Spain to capture other Dutch towns nearby.

Restoring Spanish Pride

• In 1590, the Dutch had famously captured Breda from the Spanish using a clever trick with a peat boat. Taking Breda back would erase this past defeat.
• General Spinola also wanted to improve his reputation after failing to capture another city in 1622.

Gaining an Advantage in Peace Talks

• Spain wanted to be in a strong position if peace talks happened.
• Capturing Breda would allow Spain to demand more, like religious freedom for Catholics in the Dutch Republic and an end to the blockade of the Scheldt river.

Breda's Strong Defenses

Breda was known as one of the strongest cities protecting the Dutch Republic.

City Fortifications

• The city was built on the Mark River, which made it easy to get supplies by water. It was also close to important roads.
• Breda had very strong walls made of earth, with 15 bastions (parts of the wall that stick out for defense).
• It also had a wide moat (a deep ditch filled with water) around it, about 55 to 117 meters (180 to 384 feet) wide and five feet deep.
• There were four strong brick gates to enter the city.
• Special defenses like ravelins (triangular islands in the moat) and hornworks (outer defenses) were added to make attacks harder.
• Sharp wooden stakes were placed to stop enemy soldiers and horses. These defenses were considered very modern and strong for their time.

Natural Obstacles Around Breda

• Forests around Breda made it hard for enemy cavalry (soldiers on horseback) and cannons to move.
• The high water level of the Mark River and other streams also made it difficult for attacking soldiers.
• The Dutch could even flood the area south of Breda by opening a special gate, making it impossible for the Spanish to cross.

Preparing for the Siege

• The Dutch government knew the Spanish might attack Breda.
• They made sure the city had enough food, supplies, and weapons to last for at least eight months.
• The city council agreed to store enough food for nine months.
• A Dutch army was also stationed near Breda to stop any direct attacks on the city.

The Defenders of Breda

The city of Breda had a strong group of people ready to defend it.

Garrison Soldiers

• Normally, Breda had 17 companies of soldiers, each with 65 men, and 5 groups of cavalry, each with 70 riders.
• When the siege became likely, more soldiers were added.
• To save food, some cavalry groups were sent away just before the siege began.
• About 5,200 soldiers were inside the castle, along with about 100 civilians.
• Around 1,800 male citizens of Breda, aged 20 to 70, were also armed to help the soldiers.

Commander of Breda

• The governor of Breda was Justin of Nassau, who was a son of William I, Prince of Orange. He was in charge of the city's defense.

Civilians in the City

• Besides soldiers, many ordinary citizens, farmers, and soldiers' families came into Breda for safety from the Spanish army.
• Soldiers' wives helped by cooking, washing, and caring for the sick and wounded.
• It's thought that about 13,111 people lived in Breda during the siege, in about 1,200 homes.

The Spanish Army

The Spanish army that attacked Breda was very large and diverse.

Size and Composition

• The exact number of Spanish soldiers changed, but it was huge.
• In September 1624, there were probably around 40,000 soldiers.
• By May 1625, this number might have grown to about 80,000 soldiers.
• A large part of the army was used to guard the supply routes and surround the city.
• The army included soldiers from many different places, like the southern Netherlands, Germany, Italy, Spain, France, England, and Ireland.
• Most of the soldiers were infantry (foot soldiers), with a smaller number of cavalry (horseback soldiers).

Weapons and Roles

• Infantry soldiers carried either a rapier (a type of sword) and a long pike (about 5 meters or 16 feet long), or a rapier and a musket (a type of gun).
• Cavalry soldiers used lances and pistols, or muskets and pistols.
• Foot soldiers mainly built and guarded the siege lines and protected against attacks from the city.
• Cavalry were faster and used for scouting and protecting supply convoys.
• The Spanish army had many cannons, more than 30, which could fire about 10 shots per hour.
• Sappers were special engineers who built bridges and maintained roads.

Spanish Commanders

• The main commander of the Spanish army was Ambrogio Spinola, a very skilled military leader from Italy.
• His deputies included Hendrik, Count van den Bergh and John VIII, Count of Nassau-Siegen.
• Spinola divided his large army into four sections, each with its own commander, to surround Breda effectively.

The Siege in Books and Movies

The Siege of Breda has been featured in modern stories.

• The 1998 novel El sol de Breda (meaning The Sun Over Breda) by Spanish author Arturo Pérez-Reverte tells the story of the siege. It's part of his Captain Alatriste book series.
• The book shows the tough fighting and even problems among the Spanish soldiers, like when they weren't paid. It's seen through the eyes of a young boy serving with the Spanish forces.
• The film Alatriste (2006) also shows parts of the siege, based on the novel series.

Images for kids

• 

  Map of the siege of Breda by Spinola. J.Blaeu.

• 

  Painting of the siege of Breda

See also

In Spanish: Sitio de Breda (1625) para niños

• Annus mirabilis