Battle of Dahlen

The Battle of Dahlen Soete and Spanish troops under Sancho d' Avila, governor of Philip II and Sancho de Londoño on the Dahlen Heath northeast of present-day Rhine Dahlen took place on April 25, 1568 between Dutch rebels under the command of Joost de place and ended with a devastating victory of the Spaniards over the drawn up by William of Orange army. This event is considered the beginning of the Eighty Years' War.

Prehistory

Joost de Soete, military commander William the Silent, passed on 20 April 1568 its 3000 -strong army of the Duchy of Jülich's the limit. He had to conquer the known as Beggars Dutch refugees and German mercenaries intend a strategically important place as a base for future military operations. Finally pulling further north he reached on April 23, 1568 Roermond. Since the city refused to surrender began de Soete the siege.

The governor of the Habsburg Netherlands Fernando Álvarez de Toledo, Duke of Alba responded promptly when he learned of the invasion and continued Sancho d' Avila and Sancho de Londoño with infantry, cavalry and 300 Pikenierern, a troupe of about 1,600 soldiers to Roermond in march. Before it could come to a meeting of the opponent, Joost de Soete decided to abandon the siege and withdraw east toward Erkelenz.

Battle

Finally, the opponents clashed between Erkelenz and Dahlen and a battle took place. The rebels lost 1100-1700 man, including the entire cavalry. De Soete succeeded with the rest of the group to find refuge in Dahlen and to reorganize the men.

Sancho de Londoño reached with 600 infantrymen against 16 clock the city Dahlen and rubbed the enemy in just half an hour to complete. De Soete, who had initially found refuge in the city Dahlen was captured later.

The Duchy of Jülich -Berg, on whose territory the battle took place, had previously declared neutral. For the victorious Spaniards no reason quartering soldiers in the urban area, to requisition horses or to plunder nearby towns. In Gladbach and Dahlen sustained damage by the "Spanish people of war ". So alone had to be disposed of in Dahlen damages in the amount of 1431 thalers.