Jacob van Wassenaer Obdam (younger)
Encyclopedia
General Jacob van Wassenaer Obdam (August 25, 1645 – May 24, 1714) was a Dutch general in the War of the Spanish Succession
.
He was born in Heusden
, the son of the famous Dutch Admiral Jacob van Wassenaer Obdam
. On May 19, 1676 at Delden
he married Adriana Sophia van Raesfelt. Their son was composer and diplomat Unico Wilhelm van Wassenaer
.
Unlike his father, he chose career in the army, rather than the navy. In 1702 he led the siege of Venlo
, not completely to the satisfaction of Marlborough
, his superior.
In 1703 his army of 10 000 men was surrounded by 40 000 French at Ekeren
. Considering all hope for a breakthrough lost, Obdam abandoned his army and escaped with 30 men, disguising themselves as Frenchmen. When he arrived in the Netherlands he wrote a letter admitting the total destruction of his army. But the army, now under General Slangenburg
, had forced an escape route late in the evening and saved itself. The struggle was known as the Battle of Ekeren
.
Obdam's behavior wasn't forgiven and his military career was finished. He was appointed Governor of 's-Hertogenbosch and became Ambassador to the Elector Palatine between 1708 and 1712. He died in The Hague
in 1714.
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...
.
He was born in Heusden
Heusden
Heusden is a municipality and a city in the South of the Netherlands. It is located between the cities Waalwijk and 's-Hertogenbosch.- Population centres :...
, the son of the famous Dutch Admiral Jacob van Wassenaer Obdam
Jacob van Wassenaer Obdam
Jacob, Banner Lord of Wassenaer, Lord Obdam, Hensbroek, Spanbroek, Opmeer, Zuidwijk and Kernhem was a Dutch Lieutenant-Admiral, and supreme commander of the confederate Dutch navy. The name Obdam was then also spelled as Opdam...
. On May 19, 1676 at Delden
Delden
Delden is a city in the Dutch province of Overijssel and, since 2001, in the municipality of Hof van Twente.Although its population is small, it gained city rights in 1333. Castle Twickel is a famous landmark near Delden and the Baron van Heeckeren of Twickel built a watertower in Delden...
he married Adriana Sophia van Raesfelt. Their son was composer and diplomat Unico Wilhelm van Wassenaer
Unico Wilhelm van Wassenaer
Unico Willem van Wassenaer, Count of the Empire, was a Dutch diplomat and composer....
.
Unlike his father, he chose career in the army, rather than the navy. In 1702 he led the siege of Venlo
Venlo
Venlo is a municipality and a city in the southeastern Netherlands, next to the German border. It is situated in the province of Limburg.In 2001, the municipalities of Belfeld and Tegelen were merged into the municipality of Venlo. Tegelen was originally part of the Duchy of Jülich centuries ago,...
, not completely to the satisfaction of Marlborough
John Churchill, 1st Duke of Marlborough
John Churchill, 1st Duke of Marlborough, Prince of Mindelheim, KG, PC , was an English soldier and statesman whose career spanned the reigns of five monarchs through the late 17th and early 18th centuries...
, his superior.
In 1703 his army of 10 000 men was surrounded by 40 000 French at Ekeren
Ekeren
Ekeren is a northern district of the municipality of Antwerp in the Flemish Region of Belgium. The suburb celebrated its 850th birthday in 2005; the name of the town was first mentioned in 1155, as "Hecerna"....
. Considering all hope for a breakthrough lost, Obdam abandoned his army and escaped with 30 men, disguising themselves as Frenchmen. When he arrived in the Netherlands he wrote a letter admitting the total destruction of his army. But the army, now under General Slangenburg
General Slangenburg
Frederik Johan van Baer, Lord of Slangenburg was a Dutch officer in the military service of William III of Orange.-Career:He was a professed Catholic, and therefore was denied a career in government...
, had forced an escape route late in the evening and saved itself. The struggle was known as 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...
.
Obdam's behavior wasn't forgiven and his military career was finished. He was appointed Governor of 's-Hertogenbosch and became Ambassador to the Elector Palatine between 1708 and 1712. He died in The Hague
The Hague
The Hague is the capital city of the province of South Holland in the Netherlands. With a population of 500,000 inhabitants , it is the third largest city of the Netherlands, after Amsterdam and Rotterdam...
in 1714.