Location Siege of Breda (1624)

1 location

1.1 vesting breda
1.2 garrison in breda
1.3 spanish army

location
vesting breda

breda 1 of strongest cities in defence of republic between states of holland , royal brabant. city strategically located on navigable river, mark, , near several roads.

henry iii of nassau, lord of breda 1509 1538, had been commissioned charles v travel through europe. in italy, came contact modern defences. thus, in 1531 inspired construction of late medieval style walls of breda. these later replaced modern fortifications. in 1587 , 1622, defences further expanded , updated.

the breda fortress consisted of high earthen thoroughfare 15 bastions , moat. 55 117 meter wide canal 5 feet deep , provided water mark. access city made possible 4 brick gates. crescent ravelins applied in ditches. hornwork placed on gates , @ monastery. stakewall built complicate assault horsemen , foot soldiers , simultaneously prevent desertion. fortifications in excellent condition , served state of art example of fortification.

painting of siege of breda

around breda, forests formed obstacle cavalry , artillery of besieging army , high water level of mark posed challenges attacking infantry. rivers mark , aa , other streams hampered besiegers. using inundation sluice near ginnekense gate, area south of breda put underwater if opened. north side had lock near terheijden functioned.

because states of holland , west friesland knew spanish army might attempt conquer breda, left city enough food, supplies, , weapons eight-month siege. city council refused store more food necessary nine-month siege. nobody knew tactics spanish army apply. therefore, possibility of direct assault considered. prevent this, state army stationed near breda aim of disrupting direct assault on city.

garrison in breda

the garrison in breda consisted of 17 companies in peacetime, each of consisted of 65 men , 5 cavalry squadrons of 70 riders each. when probable city become besieged, squadrons supplemented 30 riders each; infantry supplemented 28 companies of 135 men. save food, 3 squadrons sent geertruidenberg shortly before siege. castle held approximately around 100 people of 5,200 soldiers. male inhabitants of breda between 20 , 70 years, 1,800 men, armed support soldiers.

the governor of city justin of nassau, illegitimate son of william i, prince of orange. deputy dyrcx cornelis van oosterhout, role insignificant during siege.

in addition soldiers, others stayed in city. ordinary citizens, farmers, spouses , children of soldiers, came town seek protection against spanish army. soldiers wives responsible cooking , washing soldiers , caring sick , wounded. total number of inhabitants in city estimated @ 13,111. believed have been housed in 1,200 homes.

spanish army

conflicting , incomplete data not allow accurate calculation of size of spanish army. on 30 september number around 40,000 soldiers , on 2 may 1625, approximately 80,000 soldiers. 25,000 encamped along supply corridor, 25,000 men used containment of city, , 30,000 served general reserves.

according text on map blaeu, “[this was] large army, had not been seen in netherlands in living memory.”

the composition of spanish army diverse, shown in table above. army consisted of infantry, small number of riders. members of infantry equipped either rapier , 5 metre long pike, or rapier musket; members of cavalry equipped either lances , 2 pistols, or musket , 2 pistols.

the infantry used lines raise , guard , defend against army , state terror against sorties city. in supply corridor, foot soldiers deployed protect convoys. cavalry more mobile infantry , therefore used inspect area , protect convoys.

the cannons fire 10 shots per hour , operated gunners. exact number of spanish guns not precisely known, there more 30. sappers engaged in building bridges, maintaining roads, , other activities.

the commander of spanish army ambrogio spinola, 1st marquis of balbases, known military strategist italy. deputies regimental commanders hendrik, count van den bergh, commander of supply corridor, , john viii, count of nassau-siegen. spinola commander of reserve forces until 31 october when succeed carlos coloma.

because of vastness of breda, spinola had troops divided 4 compartments. 4 subjects commanders were:

^ israel, p. 539
^ rooze , eimermann, p. a17
^ rooze , eimermann, p. a20
^ g. g. van der hoeven: geschiedenis der vesting breda, op google books uitgever: schiedam : interbook international, [1974]
^ rooze , eimermann, p. a21
^ rooze , eimermann, p. a28
^ rooze , eimermann, p. a29
^ rooze , eimermann, p. a67
^ rooze , eimermann, p. a41
^ rooze , eimermann, p. a40
^ rooze , eimermann, p. a43
^ rooze , eimermann, p. a54
^ rooze , eimermann, p. a46
^ rooze , eimermann, p. a47
^ rooze , eimermann, p. a48