John Dalbier
Encyclopedia
John Dalbier was a professional army officer who served various English commanders before and during the English Civil War
in which he served in both the Parliamentary and Royalist armies.
and served him in various other capacities until the Counts death in 1626. During this time in the Count's service he visited England and may have been in the Balkans when the von Mansfeld was killed because he helped to arrange the counts funeral in Venice.
. He was sent by Buckingham to the Netherlands in connection with the Christian IV King of Denmark's
campaign there. Initially he was an advisor to the Duke in the ill-fated expedition to Saint-Martin-de-Ré
and, possibly because of professional jealousy he was sent back to England to organise reinforcements and supplies.
, Dalbier and Sir William Balfour
were commissioned by King Charles I
to raise a force of 1000 cavalry in Germany. However, as Morgan's garrison capitulated, the force was not decommissioned. This led to fears that the force would be used to suppress dissent in England; and in June 1628 questions regarding Dalbier character, religious inclinations and military expertise were raised in the House of Commons. He was defended by Sir Thomas Jermyn, who pointed out that on his journey through Germany, it was his quick thinking and persuasive manner that had saved his companions from a detachment of imperial troops because if he had chosen to, he would have been well-rewarded for betraying them.
In 1629 the Duke of Savoy
impressed by Dalbier reputation suggested him as a possible negotiator with the Swiss cantons.
, where he was described as a German and a servant to the king. However by 1642 he had fallen on hard times and was detained in the king's bench prison for debt.
Robert Devereux, 3rd Earl of Essex
secured Dalbier's release on condition that he fought for the Parliamentary cause. As colonel in command of a regiment of dozen or more troops of horse, he had an active war fighting for the Earl in many engagements including the battle of Cheriton
where he received a wounded. However, his military record was blemished, and he did not secure a commission in the New Model Army; instead, he was sent to server under General Edward Massey. In 1645 he invested Basing House
in Hampshire and took part in the final capture of the place
, followed by the capture of Donnington Castle
in Berkshire on 1 April 1646 and Wallingford Castle
in July.
He was implicated in a coup in late July 1647 and, before he could be arrested in April 1648, left London. Within a month, he joined the Royalist troops raised in Surrey by the earls of Holland
and Buckingham
and moved north with a detachment that, on 10 July, was attacked by a contingent of the New Model Army close to St Neots
(now in Cambridgeshire, then in Huntingdonshire). Dalbier was killed, according to Edmund Ludlow
, they "hewed him in pieces" because they resented his treachery, though according to John Rushworth
he died of his wounds on the following day.
English Civil War
The English Civil War was a series of armed conflicts and political machinations between Parliamentarians and Royalists...
in which he served in both the Parliamentary and Royalist armies.
In service of Count Ernst von Mansfeld (1622–1626)
Dalbier origins are unknown but he may have been a German from Strasbourg who had fought for the Dutch in the Netherlands. In 1622 he was serving as paymaster to Count Ernst von MansfeldErnst von Mansfeld
Ernst, Graf von Mansfeld , was a German military commander during the early years of the Thirty Years' War.-Biography:...
and served him in various other capacities until the Counts death in 1626. During this time in the Count's service he visited England and may have been in the Balkans when the von Mansfeld was killed because he helped to arrange the counts funeral in Venice.
In the service of the Duke of Buckingham (1627)
After failing to secure employment in Venice, Dalbier went to England and in May 1627 he found employment with George Villiers, 1st Duke of BuckinghamGeorge Villiers, 1st Duke of Buckingham
George Villiers, 1st Duke of Buckingham KG was the favourite, claimed by some to be the lover, of King James I of England. Despite a very patchy political and military record, he remained at the height of royal favour for the first two years of the reign of Charles I, until he was assassinated...
. He was sent by Buckingham to the Netherlands in connection with the Christian IV King of Denmark's
Christian IV of Denmark
Christian IV was the king of Denmark-Norway from 1588 until his death. With a reign of more than 59 years, he is the longest-reigning monarch of Denmark, and he is frequently remembered as one of the most popular, ambitious and proactive Danish kings, having initiated many reforms and projects...
campaign there. Initially he was an advisor to the Duke in the ill-fated expedition to Saint-Martin-de-Ré
Siege of Saint-Martin-de-Ré (1627)
The Siege of Saint-Martin-de-Ré, also Siege of St. Martin's , occurred in the French isle of Ile de Ré around the fortress of the city of Saint-Martin-de-Ré, when Duke of Buckingham tried to occupy the island in 1627...
and, possibly because of professional jealousy he was sent back to England to organise reinforcements and supplies.
In the service of King Charles I (1627–1629)
In 1628 to relieve Sir Charles Morgan's garrison that was defending StadeStade
Stade is a city in Lower Saxony, Germany and part of the Hamburg Metropolitan Region . It is the seat of the district named after it...
, Dalbier and Sir William Balfour
William Balfour (general)
Sir William Balfour , of the family of Balfour of Pitcullo, Fifeshire, Scotland, was a general of the parliamentary forces during the English Civil War....
were commissioned by King Charles I
Charles I of England
Charles I was King of England, King of Scotland, and King of Ireland from 27 March 1625 until his execution in 1649. Charles engaged in a struggle for power with the Parliament of England, attempting to obtain royal revenue whilst Parliament sought to curb his Royal prerogative which Charles...
to raise a force of 1000 cavalry in Germany. However, as Morgan's garrison capitulated, the force was not decommissioned. This led to fears that the force would be used to suppress dissent in England; and in June 1628 questions regarding Dalbier character, religious inclinations and military expertise were raised in the House of Commons. He was defended by Sir Thomas Jermyn, who pointed out that on his journey through Germany, it was his quick thinking and persuasive manner that had saved his companions from a detachment of imperial troops because if he had chosen to, he would have been well-rewarded for betraying them.
In 1629 the Duke of Savoy
Charles Emmanuel I, Duke of Savoy
Charles Emmanuel I , known as the Great, was the Duke of Savoy from 1580 to 1630...
impressed by Dalbier reputation suggested him as a possible negotiator with the Swiss cantons.
In the service of Gustavus Adolphus (c. 1630–1632)
Around 1630 Dalbier served under Gustavus Adolphus and was taken prisoner by the Count of Tilly at the fall of Neu-Brandenburg in 1631. Although Charles I petitioned for his release, he was not set free until December 1632 after the death of Gustavus Adolphus.First Civil War (1642–1647)
After Dalbier's release, he settled in England and in 1635 was living in the London parish of St Martin-in-the-FieldsSt Martin-in-the-Fields
St Martin-in-the-Fields is an Anglican church at the north-east corner of Trafalgar Square in the City of Westminster, London. Its patron is Saint Martin of Tours.-Roman era:Excavations at the site in 2006 led to the discovery of a grave dated about 410...
, where he was described as a German and a servant to the king. However by 1642 he had fallen on hard times and was detained in the king's bench prison for debt.
Robert Devereux, 3rd Earl of Essex
Robert Devereux, 3rd Earl of Essex
Robert Devereux, 3rd Earl of Essex was an English Parliamentarian and soldier during the first half of the seventeenth century. With the start of the English Civil War in 1642 he became the first Captain-General and Chief Commander of the Parliamentarian army, also known as the Roundheads...
secured Dalbier's release on condition that he fought for the Parliamentary cause. As colonel in command of a regiment of dozen or more troops of horse, he had an active war fighting for the Earl in many engagements including the battle of Cheriton
Battle of Cheriton
The Battle of Cheriton was an important Parliamentarian victory in the English Civil War. It took place on 29 March 1644 and resulted in the defeat of a Royalist army, which threw King Charles I onto the defensive for the remainder of the year.-Campaign:...
where he received a wounded. However, his military record was blemished, and he did not secure a commission in the New Model Army; instead, he was sent to server under General Edward Massey. In 1645 he invested Basing House
Basing House
Basing House was a major Tudor palace and castle in the village of Old Basing in the English county of Hampshire. It once rivaled Hampton Court Palace in its size and opulence. Today only its foundations and earthworks remain...
in Hampshire and took part in the final capture of the place
Siege of Basing House
The siege of Basing House near Basingstoke in Hampshire, was a Parliamentarian victory late in the First English Civil War. Whereas the title of the event may suggest a single siege, there were in fact three major engagements...
, followed by the capture of Donnington Castle
Donnington Castle
Donnington Castle is a ruined medieval castle, situated in the small village of Donnington, just north of the town of Newbury in the English county of Berkshire.- History :...
in Berkshire on 1 April 1646 and Wallingford Castle
Wallingford Castle
Wallingford Castle was a major medieval castle situated in Wallingford in the English county of Oxfordshire , adjacent to the River Thames...
in July.
Second Civil War (1647–1648)
With the deterioration of relations between the Presbyterians in Parliament and the Independents in the New Model Army, Dalbier chose to side with the Presbyterians and, by July 1647, was active in trying to organise a defence of London against the advance of the New Model Army.He was implicated in a coup in late July 1647 and, before he could be arrested in April 1648, left London. Within a month, he joined the Royalist troops raised in Surrey by the earls of Holland
Henry Rich, 1st Earl of Holland
Henry Rich, 1st Earl of Holland was an English aristocrat, courtier and soldier.-Life:He was the son of Robert Rich, 1st Earl of Warwick and of Penelope Devereux, Lady Rich, and the younger brother of Robert Rich, 2nd Earl of Warwick...
and Buckingham
George Villiers, 2nd Duke of Buckingham
George Villiers, 2nd Duke of Buckingham, 20th Baron de Ros of Helmsley, KG, PC, FRS was an English statesman and poet.- Upbringing and education :...
and moved north with a detachment that, on 10 July, was attacked by a contingent of the New Model Army close to St Neots
St Neots
St Neots is a town and civil parish with a population of 26,356 people. It lies on the River Great Ouse in Huntingdonshire District, approximately north of central London, and is the largest town in Cambridgeshire . The town is named after the Cornish monk St...
(now in Cambridgeshire, then in Huntingdonshire). Dalbier was killed, according to Edmund Ludlow
Edmund Ludlow
Edmund Ludlow was an English parliamentarian, best known for his involvement in the execution of Charles I, and for his Memoirs, which were published posthumously in a rewritten form and which have become a major source for historians of the Wars of the Three Kingdoms. After service in the English...
, they "hewed him in pieces" because they resented his treachery, though according to John Rushworth
John Rushworth
John Rushworth , English historian, was born at Acklington Park in the parish of Warkworth, Northumberland, England. He compiled a series of works called Historical Collections , concerning the period of history covering the English Civil Wars throughout the 17th century.-Background:John Rushworth...
he died of his wounds on the following day.