General Slangenburg
Encyclopedia
Frederik Johan van Baer, Lord of Slangenburg (27 July 1645 – December 15, 1713) was a Dutch officer in the military service of William III of Orange
.
Overcoming the challenges posed by his faith, he had a distinguished career in the Dutch Army, participating in the War of the Grand Alliance
and the War of the Spanish Succession
. In 1675 he was the Colonel
of one of the Dutch-Scottish regiments. He became Major General
in 1683, Lieutenant-General in 1692 and General
in 1704. In 1689 he commanded troops at the Battle of Walcourt
. In 1703 he rescued a desperate situation at the Battle of Ekeren
. Slangenburg resented the Duke of Marlborough and headed the opposition of certain Dutch generals against his command. In the end Slangenburg was removed in 1705 from his post and replaced by Ouwerkerk, who had a far better personal relationship with Marlborough.
Van Baer rebuild his ancestral mansion the "Slangenburg
" near Doetinchem
into a considerable castle, fitting his status. His wife is memorialized in many paintings there by Gerard Hoet
.
William III of England
William III & II was a sovereign Prince of Orange of the House of Orange-Nassau by birth. From 1672 he governed as Stadtholder William III of Orange over Holland, Zeeland, Utrecht, Guelders, and Overijssel of the Dutch Republic. From 1689 he reigned as William III over England and Ireland...
.
Career
He was a professed Catholic, and therefore was denied a career in government. A career in the army was the obvious choice.Overcoming the challenges posed by his faith, he had a distinguished career in the Dutch Army, participating in the War of the Grand Alliance
War of the Grand Alliance
The Nine Years' War – often called the War of the Grand Alliance, the War of the Palatine Succession, or the War of the League of Augsburg – was a major war of the late 17th century fought between King Louis XIV of France, and a European-wide coalition, the Grand Alliance, led by the Anglo-Dutch...
and the War of the Spanish Succession
War of the Spanish Succession
The War of the Spanish Succession was fought among several European powers, including a divided Spain, over the possible unification of the Kingdoms of Spain and France under one Bourbon monarch. As France and Spain were among the most powerful states of Europe, such a unification would have...
. In 1675 he was the Colonel
Colonel
Colonel , abbreviated Col or COL, is a military rank of a senior commissioned officer. It or a corresponding rank exists in most armies and in many air forces; the naval equivalent rank is generally "Captain". It is also used in some police forces and other paramilitary rank structures...
of one of the Dutch-Scottish regiments. He became Major General
Major General
Major general or major-general is a military rank used in many countries. It is derived from the older rank of sergeant major general. A major general is a high-ranking officer, normally subordinate to the rank of lieutenant general and senior to the ranks of brigadier and brigadier general...
in 1683, Lieutenant-General in 1692 and General
General
A general officer is an officer of high military rank, usually in the army, and in some nations, the air force. The term is widely used by many nations of the world, and when a country uses a different term, there is an equivalent title given....
in 1704. In 1689 he commanded troops at the Battle of Walcourt
Battle of Walcourt
The Battle of Walcourt was fought on 25 August 1689 during the Nine Years' War. The action took place near the ancient walled town of Walcourt near Charleroi in the Spanish Netherlands, and brought to a close a summer of uneventful marching, manoeuvring, and foraging...
. In 1703 he rescued a desperate situation at the Battle of Ekeren
Battle of Ekeren
The Battle of Ekeren, June 30, 1703 was a battle of the War of the Spanish Succession. The French surrounded a Dutch force, which barely avoided complete destruction...
. Slangenburg resented the Duke of Marlborough and headed the opposition of certain Dutch generals against his command. In the end Slangenburg was removed in 1705 from his post and replaced by Ouwerkerk, who had a far better personal relationship with Marlborough.
Family
In 1665 he married Dorothea Petronella van Steenbergen, who died the same year. Frederik never remarried.Van Baer rebuild his ancestral mansion the "Slangenburg
Slangenburg
Slangenburg Castle is a castle in the municipality of Doetinchem in the province of Gelderland in the Netherlands. The castle is located in the forest of the same name between the towns of Varsseveld and Doetinchem, about 5 kilometers from the latter....
" near Doetinchem
Doetinchem
Doetinchem is a city and municipality in the east of the Netherlands. It is situated along the Oude IJssel river in a part of the province of Gelderland called the Achterhoek . The municipality has 56,700 inhabitants and has an area of 79.66 km²...
into a considerable castle, fitting his status. His wife is memorialized in many paintings there by Gerard Hoet
Gerard Hoet
-Biography:Gerard Hoet trained with his father and brother who were glass painters, and Warnard van Rijsen, who lived in Zaltbommel, and who himself was a pupil of Cornelis van Poelenburgh in Utrecht. In 1672 Hoet moved to The Hague, but when the Count of Salis bought paintings at his mother's...
.