Johann Jakob, Count of Bronckhorst and Anholt

Johann Jakob von Bronckhorst - Batenburg (* February 12, 1582 at Anholt, † October 19, 1630 in Freiburg im Breisgau), since 1621 Graf von Bronckhorst - Batenburg, called Count Anholt, was an imperial Field Marshal in the Thirty Years' War.

Life

Johann Jacob was the second son of Baron Jakob von Bronckhorst (1553-1582, died at the siege of hole home ) and his wife Gertrude of Millendonk ( 1552-1612 ). Already at the age of 12 he became a lieutenant of a Fähnlein Anholter soldiers. At 14, he came to training on a Lorraine University, where he was trained four years thoroughly. Then he made a one and a half year old grand tour through Italy. In 1603 he went as his father in the Spanish military service. 1605 he was appointed captain. After the armistice of 1609, he was a colonel in the Austrian service. His commander, Archduke Leopold, made ​​him his Privy Council and appointed commander of a regiment on foot. The regiment fought from 1618 on the part of the Catholic League during the Thirty Years' War. In 1620 he participated under Maximilian I of Bavaria in Bohemia at the Battle of White Mountain. Johann Jakob von Bronckhorst - Batenburg was then quickly Feldmarschalleutnant and 1622 field marshal in the Imperial -Bavarian army. In addition, he was raised in 1621 to the Count.

In the years 1622/23 Johann Jacob was in Westphalia, the opponent of Christian of Brunswick -Wolfenbüttel and Ernst von Mansfeld, he drove back to East Friesland. At this time, the later Imperial Lieutenant General Gallas was his colonel. Finally, he defeated Christian of Brunswick -Wolfenbüttel end of 1623 under Tilly at the battle of city wage, in which he could be characterized as commander of the vanguard, as they broke through the enemy ranks. The late General Alexander von Velen was one of his soldiers.

In 1624, he besieged under Ambrosio Spinola, the city of Breda. After that, he fought under Tilly in Northern Germany (Osnabrück, Stade ) against the Danes. In the winter of 1627/28 he established himself in Ostfriesland. In 1628 he was awarded the Order of the Golden Fleece; at the same time Wallenstein was to be commander in chief. The Emperor also appointed him Governor of Alsace and western Austria. 1630 He died in Freiburg from tuberculosis.

Family

Johann Jacob married on November 6, 1618 Maria Cleopha of Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen, daughter of Charles II of Hohenzollern -Sigmaringen and his second wife Elizabeth of Palant (c. 1567-1620 ), Countess of Culemborg. The couple had two children:

• Johanna Catherine ( Isabelle ) ( born March 28, 1627 † after 1685 ) ∞ 1641 Prince Jacques Philippe of Croy - Millendonck († 1683 in Cologne), whose son was Field Marshal Charles Eugène de Croy.
• Dietrich