Joost de Soete
Encyclopedia
Joost de Soete or de Zoete, Lord of Villers or Villiers, (1510–1520, Sluis
- March 1589, The Hague
) was a Dutch
nobleman and military commander who fought in the early years of the Eighty Years' War
.
De Soete was the third son Alexander de Zoete, knight and governor of Zeeland
, and Johanna van Ranst, lady of Hautin, who had married in 1502.
Field Marshal
De Soete led the Dutch geuzen
, a force of 2,000 men, during the Battle of Rheindalen
. On April 23, 1568, Soete's attempt to conquer Roermond
failed and he fled to Dalheim
. Two days later, at Dalheim, Soete lost the battle to a 5,000 strong Spanish garrison led by Sancho d'Avila
. This event is sometimes considered the start of the "Tachtigjarige Oorlog" (Eighty Years' War
).
In 1580, he was Commander of Bouchout
. In March 1589 he was mortally wounded at the battle at Geertruidenberg
. He was brought to The Hague where he soon died.
His coat of arms
were a black twill with silver chevron.
Sluis
Sluis is the name of both a municipality and a town located in the west of Zeelandic Flanders, in the south-western part of the Netherlands....
- March 1589, 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...
) was a Dutch
Dutch Republic
The Dutch Republic — officially known as the Republic of the Seven United Netherlands , the Republic of the United Netherlands, or the Republic of the Seven United Provinces — was a republic in Europe existing from 1581 to 1795, preceding the Batavian Republic and ultimately...
nobleman and military commander who fought in the early years of the Eighty Years' War
Dutch Revolt
The Dutch Revolt or the Revolt of the Netherlands This article adopts 1568 as the starting date of the war, as this was the year of the first battles between armies. However, since there is a long period of Protestant vs...
.
De Soete was the third son Alexander de Zoete, knight and governor of Zeeland
Zeeland
Zeeland , also called Zealand in English, is the westernmost province of the Netherlands. The province, located in the south-west of the country, consists of a number of islands and a strip bordering Belgium. Its capital is Middelburg. With a population of about 380,000, its area is about...
, and Johanna van Ranst, lady of Hautin, who had married in 1502.
Field Marshal
Field Marshal
Field Marshal is a military rank. Traditionally, it is the highest military rank in an army.-Etymology:The origin of the rank of field marshal dates to the early Middle Ages, originally meaning the keeper of the king's horses , from the time of the early Frankish kings.-Usage and hierarchical...
De Soete led the Dutch geuzen
Geuzen
Geuzen was a name assumed by the confederacy of Calvinist Dutch nobles and other malcontents, who from 1566 opposed Spanish rule in the Netherlands. The most successful group of them operated at sea, and so were called Watergeuzen...
, a force of 2,000 men, during the Battle of Rheindalen
Battle of Rheindalen
The Battle of Dahlen was fought on April 23, 1568, between a Dutch rebel army led by Joost de Soete, Lord of Villers, and a Spanish army commanded by Sancho Dávila y Daza. As a part of William of Orange's planned invasion, the Dutch rebels were trying to conquer the town of Roermond when the...
. On April 23, 1568, Soete's attempt to conquer Roermond
Roermond
Roermond is a city, a municipality, and a diocese in the southeastern part of the Netherlands.The city of Roermond is a historically important town, on the lower Roer at the east bank of the Meuse river. It received city rights in 1231...
failed and he fled to Dalheim
Dalheim
Dalheim is a commune and town in south-eastern Luxembourg. It is part of the canton of Remich, which is part of the district of Grevenmacher....
. Two days later, at Dalheim, Soete lost the battle to a 5,000 strong Spanish garrison led by Sancho d'Avila
Sancho d'Avila
Sancho d'Avila was a Spanish General.Born at Ávila, he first served as the commander of the Duke of Alba's bodyguard. It was in this function that d'Avila arrested the Count of Egmont....
. This event is sometimes considered the start of the "Tachtigjarige Oorlog" (Eighty Years' War
Dutch Revolt
The Dutch Revolt or the Revolt of the Netherlands This article adopts 1568 as the starting date of the war, as this was the year of the first battles between armies. However, since there is a long period of Protestant vs...
).
In 1580, he was Commander of Bouchout
Bouchout Castle
Bouchout Castle is a castle in the Flemish town of Meise, Belgium. In the 12th century, this territory of the young Duchy of Brabant was strategically positioned between the County of Flanders and the Berthout family, lords of Grimbergen...
. In March 1589 he was mortally wounded at the battle at Geertruidenberg
Geertruidenberg
Geertruidenberg is a city and municipality in the province North Brabant in the south of the Netherlands. The city, named after Saint Gertrude of Nivelles, received city rights in 1213 from the count of Holland. The fortified city prospered until the 15th century.Today, the municipality of...
. He was brought to The Hague where he soon died.
His coat of arms
Coat of arms
A coat of arms is a unique heraldic design on a shield or escutcheon or on a surcoat or tabard used to cover and protect armour and to identify the wearer. Thus the term is often stated as "coat-armour", because it was anciently displayed on the front of a coat of cloth...
were a black twill with silver chevron.