Siege of Heidelberg (1622)
Encyclopedia
The Siege of Heidelberg took place from 23 July to 19 September 1622, between the Spanish-Imperial army led by Johan Tzerclaes, Count of Tilly and Don Gonzalo Fernández de Córdoba against Protestant forces led by Sir Gerard Herbert
. On 16 September the town of Heidelberg
was taken by storm, and the Heidelberg Castle
surrendered three days later to the Spanish and Imperial forces.
tactics in the hope of wearing the enemy out, until the approach of winter compelled the English and their allies to seek quarters. Sir Horace Vere
divided his troops among the three most important strongholds of the Palatinate. He himself occupied Mannheim
, Sir Gerard Herbert
he stationed in Heidelberg Castle
, while Sir John Burroughs
undertook to defend Frankenthal
.
Early in 1621 the Protestant Union
was broken up, and the English garrisons had to give up all hope of relief. The English governors were not closely pressed that year. The garrison under Vere
at Mannheim received a visit early in 1622 from the dethroned Elector
, who had promised them a diversion, and who, in conjunction with Mansfeldt, had inflicted a momentary check upon the Imperialist army under Tilly at Wiesloch
(April).
A few weeks later, however, Tilly, having been reinforced by the Spanish army commanded by Don Gonzalo Fernández de Córdoba, inflicted defeats on the Protestants, and in June, the Elector had finally to leave Mannheim
.
Heidelberg came under siege by the Spanish-Imperial forces and despite an 11-week resistance, fell on 19 September 1622.
The English commander of the Protestant forces, Sir Gerard Herbert
, was mortally wounded during the siege.
The progress of the Spanish was unstoppable, and after the fall of Heidelberg
, and the unsuccessful Protestant defense at Mannheim
, the Spanish army captured the city. Finally, the defensive Anglo-Protestant forces under Sir Horace Vere
, after a futile struggle, were defeated and capitulated.
Only Frankenthal
remained loyal to Frederick V, Elector Palatine
, defended by the forces of Sir John Burroughs
, but was taken one year later by the Spanish troops, thus leaving the Electorate of Palatinate in the hands of the Spaniards.
Gerard Herbert
Sir Gerard Herbert was an English commander during the Eighty Years' War and the Thirty Years' War. He participated in the Siege of Heidelberg and was defeated by the Spanish-Imperial troops of Johan Tzerclaes, Count of Tilly and Don Gonzalo Fernández de Córdoba.-External links:* *...
. On 16 September the town of Heidelberg
Heidelberg
-Early history:Between 600,000 and 200,000 years ago, "Heidelberg Man" died at nearby Mauer. His jaw bone was discovered in 1907; with scientific dating, his remains were determined to be the earliest evidence of human life in Europe. In the 5th century BC, a Celtic fortress of refuge and place of...
was taken by storm, and the Heidelberg Castle
Heidelberg Castle
The Heidelberg Castle is a famous ruin in Germany and landmark of Heidelberg. The castle ruins are among the most important Renaissance structures north of the Alps....
surrendered three days later to the Spanish and Imperial forces.
Background
In 1620 the Spanish commander Don Ambrosio Spinola adopted FabianFabian strategy
The Fabian strategy is a military strategy where pitched battles and frontal assaults are avoided in favor of wearing down an opponent through a war of attrition and indirection. While avoiding decisive battles, the side employing this strategy harasses its enemy through skirmishes to cause...
tactics in the hope of wearing the enemy out, until the approach of winter compelled the English and their allies to seek quarters. Sir Horace Vere
Horace Vere
Sir Horace Vere, 1st Baron Vere of Tilbury was an English military leader during the Eighty Years' War and the Thirty Years' War, a son of Geoffrey Vere and brother of Francis Vere. He was sent to the Palatinate by James I in 1620...
divided his troops among the three most important strongholds of the Palatinate. He himself occupied Mannheim
Mannheim
Mannheim is a city in southwestern Germany. With about 315,000 inhabitants, Mannheim is the second-largest city in the Bundesland of Baden-Württemberg, following the capital city of Stuttgart....
, Sir Gerard Herbert
Gerard Herbert
Sir Gerard Herbert was an English commander during the Eighty Years' War and the Thirty Years' War. He participated in the Siege of Heidelberg and was defeated by the Spanish-Imperial troops of Johan Tzerclaes, Count of Tilly and Don Gonzalo Fernández de Córdoba.-External links:* *...
he stationed in Heidelberg Castle
Heidelberg Castle
The Heidelberg Castle is a famous ruin in Germany and landmark of Heidelberg. The castle ruins are among the most important Renaissance structures north of the Alps....
, while Sir John Burroughs
Sir John Burroughs
Sir John Burroughs or "Borough" was a 17th-century English soldier and military commander in the protestant army commanded by Horace Vere in the Palatinate, during the Eighty Years' War and the Thirty Years' War....
undertook to defend Frankenthal
Frankenthal
Frankenthal is a town in southwestern Germany, in the state of Rhineland-Palatinate.- History :Frankenthal was first mentioned in 772. In 1119 an Augustinian monastery was built here, the ruins of which — known, after the founder, as the Erkenbertruine — still stand today in the town...
.
Early in 1621 the Protestant Union
Protestant Union
The Protestant Union or Evangelical Union was a coalition of Protestant German states that was formed in 1608 to defend the rights, lands and person of each member....
was broken up, and the English garrisons had to give up all hope of relief. The English governors were not closely pressed that year. The garrison under Vere
Horace Vere
Sir Horace Vere, 1st Baron Vere of Tilbury was an English military leader during the Eighty Years' War and the Thirty Years' War, a son of Geoffrey Vere and brother of Francis Vere. He was sent to the Palatinate by James I in 1620...
at Mannheim received a visit early in 1622 from the dethroned Elector
Frederick V, Elector Palatine
Frederick V was Elector Palatine , and, as Frederick I , King of Bohemia ....
, who had promised them a diversion, and who, in conjunction with Mansfeldt, had inflicted a momentary check upon the Imperialist army under Tilly at Wiesloch
Wiesloch
Wiesloch is a city in Germany, in northern Baden-Württemberg. It is situated 13 kilometres south of Heidelberg.After Weinheim, Sinsheim and Leimen it is the fourth largest city of the Rhein-Neckar-Kreis and is in the north-central area near Heidelberg with its neighbouring town Walldorf...
(April).
A few weeks later, however, Tilly, having been reinforced by the Spanish army commanded by Don Gonzalo Fernández de Córdoba, inflicted defeats on the Protestants, and in June, the Elector had finally to leave Mannheim
Mannheim
Mannheim is a city in southwestern Germany. With about 315,000 inhabitants, Mannheim is the second-largest city in the Bundesland of Baden-Württemberg, following the capital city of Stuttgart....
.
Siege of Heidelberg
The English garrisons were now surrounded by a force of Spaniards and Imperialists under Tilly and Córdoba. Vere resolved to hold out, though he knew that the military position was hopeless. The combined Protestant forces, now numbering 25,000 strong, positioned themselves on the western bank of the Rhine River.Heidelberg came under siege by the Spanish-Imperial forces and despite an 11-week resistance, fell on 19 September 1622.
The English commander of the Protestant forces, Sir Gerard Herbert
Gerard Herbert
Sir Gerard Herbert was an English commander during the Eighty Years' War and the Thirty Years' War. He participated in the Siege of Heidelberg and was defeated by the Spanish-Imperial troops of Johan Tzerclaes, Count of Tilly and Don Gonzalo Fernández de Córdoba.-External links:* *...
, was mortally wounded during the siege.
Aftermath
Heidelberg
-Early history:Between 600,000 and 200,000 years ago, "Heidelberg Man" died at nearby Mauer. His jaw bone was discovered in 1907; with scientific dating, his remains were determined to be the earliest evidence of human life in Europe. In the 5th century BC, a Celtic fortress of refuge and place of...
, and the unsuccessful Protestant defense at Mannheim
Mannheim
Mannheim is a city in southwestern Germany. With about 315,000 inhabitants, Mannheim is the second-largest city in the Bundesland of Baden-Württemberg, following the capital city of Stuttgart....
, the Spanish army captured the city. Finally, the defensive Anglo-Protestant forces under Sir Horace Vere
Horace Vere
Sir Horace Vere, 1st Baron Vere of Tilbury was an English military leader during the Eighty Years' War and the Thirty Years' War, a son of Geoffrey Vere and brother of Francis Vere. He was sent to the Palatinate by James I in 1620...
, after a futile struggle, were defeated and capitulated.
Only Frankenthal
Frankenthal
Frankenthal is a town in southwestern Germany, in the state of Rhineland-Palatinate.- History :Frankenthal was first mentioned in 772. In 1119 an Augustinian monastery was built here, the ruins of which — known, after the founder, as the Erkenbertruine — still stand today in the town...
remained loyal to Frederick V, Elector Palatine
Frederick V, Elector Palatine
Frederick V was Elector Palatine , and, as Frederick I , King of Bohemia ....
, defended by the forces of Sir John Burroughs
Sir John Burroughs
Sir John Burroughs or "Borough" was a 17th-century English soldier and military commander in the protestant army commanded by Horace Vere in the Palatinate, during the Eighty Years' War and the Thirty Years' War....
, but was taken one year later by the Spanish troops, thus leaving the Electorate of Palatinate in the hands of the Spaniards.
See also
- Electorate of Palatinate
- League of Evangelical Union
- English ReformationEnglish ReformationThe English Reformation was the series of events in 16th-century England by which the Church of England broke away from the authority of the Pope and the Roman Catholic Church....
- James I of EnglandJames I of EnglandJames VI and I was King of Scots as James VI from 24 July 1567 and King of England and Ireland as James I from the union of the English and Scottish crowns on 24 March 1603...
- Catholic LeagueCatholic League (German)The German Catholic League was initially a loose confederation of Roman Catholic German states formed on July 10, 1609 to counteract the Protestant Union , whereby the participating states concluded an alliance "for the defence of the Catholic religion and peace within the Empire." Modeled...
- Battle of StadtlohnBattle of StadtlohnThe Battle of Stadtlohn was fought on August 6, 1623 between the armies of Christian of Brunswick and of the Catholic League during the Thirty Years' War...