Battle of Gravelines (1558)

The Battle of Gravelines (or Grevelingen ) was the last military conflict in the Italian Wars and was discharged at Gravelines on July 13, 1558. Here fought the defending French against a Spanish -English alliance.

The French, under the leadership of Paul de la Barthe, seigneur de Thermes, were the Spanish troops of Lamoraal of Egmond, who was supported by the English, inferior. Egmond cavalry attacked three times, but was thrown back at first three times. Then chose the mercenaries, divided into three clusters ( German, Spaniards, Walloons ) the meeting. They were under the command of Colonel Hilmar von Munchausen and had only small losses, because the German mercenaries on the French side, lances raised to not fight against their compatriots must. General de Thermes was taken by Munchausen mercenaries, but claiming him Egmont, the winner of Gravelines, for themselves; a Supreme Court said, however later the 6000 dollars ransom Munchausen.

The trigger for this battle was the struggle of France under Henry II with Philip II of Spain for supremacy in Europe. This conflict ended with the Battle of Gravelines.