Battle of Jemmingen explained

Conflict:Battle of Jemmingen
Partof:the Eighty Years' War
Date:21 July 1568
Place:Jemmingen, County of East Frisia, Holy Roman Empire (present-day Germany)
Coordinates:53.25°N 30°W
Result:Flemish-Spanish victory[1]
Combatant1:Dutch rebels
Combatant2: Spanish Empire
Commander1:Louis of Nassau
Commander2: Duke of Alba
Strength1:10,000 infantry
2,000 cavalry
16 guns
Strength2:12,000 infantry
3,000 cavalry
Casualties1:7,000 dead or wounded
Casualties2:80 dead
220 wounded

After the Battle of Heiligerlee, the Dutch rebel leader Louis of Nassau (brother of William the Silent) failed to capture the city of Groningen. Louis was driven away by Fernando Álvarez de Toledo, Duke of Alba and defeated at the Battle of Jemmingen (also known as Battle of Jemgum, at Jemgum in East Frisia, now part of Germany) on 21 July 1568.

Forces

The Spanish army consisted of 12,000 infantry (4 tercios), 3,000 cavalry, and some cannons. Louis of Nassau opposed them with 10,000 infantry (2 groups), some cavalry, and 16 cannons.

Battle

After three hours of skirmishes, Louis' army left its trenches and advanced. Pounded by effective musket fire and intimidated by the Spanish cavalry, the advance turned into a general retreat towards the river Ems.

Aftermath

On 19 May 1571 a statue of the Duke, cast from one of the captured bronze cannons, was placed in Antwerp citadel. After the Sack of Antwerp in 1576, the city joined the Dutch Revolt and in 1577 the statue was destroyed by an angry crowd.

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Notes and References

  1. Laffin, John, Brassey's Dictionary of Battles, (Barnes & Noble, 1995), 212–213.