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Warmatrix

War Matrix - Capture of Breda

Age of Discovery 1480 CE - 1620 CE, Battles and sieges

Capture of Breda in four scenes, print by Bartholomeus Dolendo
Capture of Breda in four scenes, print by Bartholomeus Dolendo
The Capture of Breda is an example of how one can take a hostile city without a fight.
In 1590 CE the Dutch, after initially being hard pressed by the Spanish, were on the offensive in the Eighty Years' War. The city of Breda was an important stronghold in the province of Brabant. It had joined the Dutch revolt, but had been retaken by the Spanish in 1581 CE. Now Maurice of Nassau wanted to liberate it. However the city was well fortified and wedged between two rivers that made an easy approach impossible. In case of a siege, its garrison of 500 troops, mostly Italian and some Spanish, probably could hold out a long time.
Maurice was approached by the skipper Adriaen van Bergen from Leur. The latter frequently transported peat to the city by boat and was so well known and trusted that the soldiers did not bother to check his cargo. His idea was to smuggle a small number of troops inside. Maurice approved of the plan and ordered Charles de Heraugiere and 70 men to carry it out.
The operation got underway with difficulty. First the skipper's morale sank and he abandoned the project, but two of his cousins took over. Bad weather further delayed the approach; Breda was reached only after two days and by then the intruders were shivering in the cold. Inside the city, the boat accidentally rammed an obstacle and nearly sank. Despite all setbacks they sailed towards the castle.
At midnight the attackers jumped out of the cargo hold and completely surprised the castle defenders. Despite outnumbering former 6 times, they fled or were captured. 40 Italians and Spanish were killed. The following day Maurice's army entered the city, which was rapidly supplied, so that it was able to beat off the Spanish counterattack. The duke of Parma was enraged by what he perceived as the cowardice of the defenders.
The capture of Breda echoes the story of the Trojan Horse, yet was no myth but reality. It was a turning point in the war for the Dutch, who proceeded to take several other cities in conventional sieges. The Dutch held Breda until 1625 CE, then lost it again and recovered it 12 years later, after which it remained Dutch.