Siege of Schoonhoven (1575) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Siege of Schoonhoven (1575)
Part of the Eighty Years' War and the Anglo-Spanish War (1585–1604)
Date 11–24 August 1575 Location Schoonhoven, Spanish Netherlands (present-day the Netherlands) Result Spanish victory
Belligerents
Dutch Rebels  England Huguenots	Spain
Commanders and leaders
De La Garde	Gilles de Berlaymont

The Siege of Schoonhoven in 1575 was an important battle during a long conflict called the Eighty Years' War. It also happened during the Anglo-Spanish War. This battle took place in a town called Schoonhoven, which is now part of the Netherlands. The Spanish army won this battle. It lasted from August 11 to August 24, 1575.

What was the Siege of Schoonhoven?

A siege is when an army surrounds a town or castle. They try to cut off supplies and force the people inside to give up. The Siege of Schoonhoven was one such event. It was part of the Eighty Years' War, a fight for independence by the Dutch against Spain. The Spanish controlled many areas, including what was then called the Spanish Netherlands.

The Spanish Advance

Before reaching Schoonhoven, the Spanish forces were very successful. Their army had between 8,000 and 10,000 soldiers. They were led by Gilles de Berlaymont, who was a powerful leader. He was also a Stadtholder (a type of governor) for several regions.

On June 28, 1575, Berlaymont's army captured the town of Buren. Then, on August 7, they took Oudewater. These victories showed how strong the Spanish army was. Their next target was Schoonhoven.

The Battle for Schoonhoven

The Spanish army arrived at Schoonhoven on August 11. The town was defended by rebel forces. These forces included about 800 soldiers. They were a mix of Dutch, English, Scottish, French, and Walloon fighters. Their leader was named De La Garde.

The rebels fought bravely for 13 days. However, the Spanish troops were more experienced and had more soldiers. Despite their courage, the rebel forces could not hold out. On August 24, they had to surrender to the Spanish.

The people living in Schoonhoven had not wanted to help the rebel forces. When Berlaymont's army entered the town, the local people welcomed them. They were happy that the fighting was over.

After the Siege

After their victory at Schoonhoven, the Spanish army continued their campaign. About two weeks later, another Spanish commander, Charles de Brimeu, led troops towards Woerden. They began a new siege there on September 8. This showed that the Spanish were determined to keep control of the region.

See also

• Siege of Zierikzee (1576)
• Siege of Maastricht (1579)
• List of Stadtholders of the Low Countries