Baudart, Guillaume [Siege of Bredevoort]

Guillaume Baudart. [Siege of Bredevoort].

Engraving of the Low Country revolt against Spain. Early seventeenth century. Engraving. Ca. 5 x 6 1/2. Very good condition.

The siege of Bredevoort took place in 1597 during the Eighty Years’ War and the Anglo-Spanish War. Led by Maurice of Nassau, Prince of Orange, the siege lasted from 1 to 9 October and ended with the occupation of the city by his forces. The capture of Bredevoort was part of a wider campaign in which several towns were taken, including Turnhout, Alphen, Rheinberg, Meurs, Groenlo, Goor, Enschede, Oldenzaal, Ootmarsum, and Lingen.

Holy Roman Emperor Charles V (also King of Spain as Charles I) abdicated his thrones in 1556, bequeathing both Spain and the Netherlands to his son Philip. In response to Philip's trying to limit the economic, political, and religious freedoms they had hitherto taken for granted, the Dutch revolted against the Spanish Crown in 1567. Despite the strength and cruelty of the generals sent against them by Philip, in particular the Duke of Alva (1567-1573) and the Duke of Parma (1578-1592), the Dutch were able to establish an independent republic in the northern seven provinces in 1579.