| Conflict: | Siege of Rheinberg (1586–1590) |
| Partof: | the Eighty Years' War and the Cologne War |
| Date: | 13 August 1586 – 3 February 1590 |
| Place: | Rheinberg (present-day Germany) |
| Result: | Spanish victory[1] [2] |
| Combatant1: | Electorate of Cologne (Gebhard Truchsess) |
| Combatant2: |  Spain |
| Commander1: | Maarten Schenck Francis Vere (From 1590) |
| Commander2: | Duke of Parma Count of Mansfeld |
The siege of Rheinberg 1586–1590, also known as the capture of Rheinberg of 1590, took place at the strategic Cologne enclave of Rheinberg (present-day North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany), one of the principal crossing-points over the Rhine on the stretch between the Electorate of Cologne and the Dutch border,[3] between 13 August 1586 and 3 February 1590, during the Eighty Years' War, the Cologne War, and the Anglo-Spanish War (1585–1604).[1] [2] After an initial siege in 1586, and a long blocking by the Spanish forces until September 1589, Don Alexander Farnese, Duke of Parma (Spanish: Alejandro Farnesio), commander-in-chief of the Spanish army, sent a substantial force, under Peter Ernst, Count of Mansfeld, to besiege Rheinberg.[2] [4] Despite the efforts by Maarten Schenck van Nydeggen (until his death at the Assault on Nijmegen on 10 August 1589),[5] and Sir Francis Vere (from 1590), to relieve the fortress city, the Protestant garrison finally surrendered to the Spaniards on 3 February 1590.[5] [6] [7]
On 19 August 1597 the Dutch army led by Maurice of Nassau captured Rheinberg for the States in his successful campaign of 1597,[8] but the following year the Spanish Army of Flanders led by Don Francisco de Mendoza retook the strategic place, forcing the garrison to surrender.[9]