The Battle of the Lippe was a cavalry action that occurred on September 2, 1595 on the banks of the Lippe River, in Germany, between the Spanish cavalry corps headed by Juan de CÃÆ'³rdoba and the Dutch cavalry corps, supported by British troops led by Philip from Nassau. Dutch Statholder Maurice from Nassau, taking advantage of the fact that most Spanish troops are busy in operations in France, besieged the town of Groenlo in Gelderland, but the old governor of the Antwerp citadel, CristÃÆ'³bal de MondragÃÆ'³n, organized a relief army and forced Maurice to lift the siege. MondragÃÆ'³n subsequently moved to the Wesel, placing his troops on the south bank of the Lippe River to protect Rheinberg from the Dutch attack. Maurice aims later, relying on his superiors, to pull MondragÃÆ'³n into a pitched battle, planning to use the ambush to draw the Spanish army into a trap. However, the plan was discovered by the Spanish commander, who organized a counterattack.
The Netherlands intends to take over Spanish collector convoys and send it to their camp to draw Spanish troops in pursuit of Lippe banks, where Maurice is waiting with the Dutch Army for fighting. However, Mondragón strengthened the escort of the convoy and hid the huge cavalry troops in a forest near the lieutenant Juan de CÃÆ'³rdoba. Due to MondragÃÆ'³n's long experience, Spain defeated Dutch troops and caused a number of casualties over Philip's people from Nassau, including himself and some Dutch and British high-ranking officers in the Dutch army.
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In 1595, Henry IV of France declared war on Spain in response to Philip II's continued support for the French Catholic League, and formed an alliance with Elizabeth I of England and the Dutch Republic, who were engaged in their own war against the Kingdom of Spain.. Dutch Catholics, consequently, are trapped between two fronts, and French and Dutch forces even try to create a corridor connecting their respective countries through Prince-Bishopric of LiÃÆ'¨ge. The new Dutch governor-general, Count of Fuentes, directed his efforts against Picardy and CambrÃÆ'Â sis, leaving several troops to defend the faithful provinces of the Dutch attack.
In July, while Fuentes was busy in the Doullens siege, Maurice of Nassau, statholder of the Republic of the Netherlands, gathered 6,000 infantry powers, cavalry companies and 16 artillery units of the Netherlands State, and led them beneath Groenlo walls, a city of size being in County Zutphen. The northern side maintained by Slinge, the Berkel river, Groenlo is fortified by five forts and garrisons by 11 infantry companies from Count Herman van den Bergh's 600-army regiment under Jan van Stirum, a German officer, and four small artillery pieces. pieces.
Upon receiving news of the siege, CristÃÆ'³bal de MondragÃÆ'³n, the elderly governor of Spain from Antwerp, whom Fuentes abandoned as a commander of Spanish troops across from the Netherlands, gathered troop collectors from several garrisons and marched to Groenlo via Brabant and Gelderland. MondragÃÆ'³n strength consists of two Spanish statues (under Luis de Velasco and Antonio de ZÃÆ'ºÃÆ'  ± ribs), the Irish regiment under William Stanley, the Swiss regiment and 1,300 cavalry under Juan de CÃÆ'³rdoba, who, after crossing the Meuse in Venlo, join Frederick German regiment van den Bergh.
Above 80, MondragÃÆ'³n can still ride a horse, although he must be helped by two men and can only wear light armor. He first became famous at the Battle of MÃÆ'¼hlberg, in 1547, and was one of several famous Spanish officers in the rebel provinces, depicted in a positive light by contemporary Dutch writers such as Hugo Grotius and Pieter Corneliszoon Hooft. MondragÃÆ'³n plotted not only to lighten Groenlo, but also to lure Maurice into a fierce battle. But the Dutch general, upon receiving news of enemy parades, burned the supplies, equipment and ammunition gathered for the siege and retreated two miles from Groenlo. MondragÃÆ'³n therefore can by ressuply city without interruption.
Maps Battle of the Lippe
Prelude
After Groenlo was secured, MondragÃÆ'³n moved south towards Rheinberg to protect the city from the Dutch attack. He camped his troops near the Wesel, at Dinslaken, while Maurice followed him and took a position in Bislich, the two armies separated by the Lippe river. Spain's position is strong; rear and left wing covered by Rhine and right wing by Lippe and various moorland hills called Testerburg. For several weeks the two armies looked at each other, often fighting as the two horsemen searched for food. As time passed, Spanish gatherers were forced to find two or three leagues far from their camps. Maurice took the opportunity to plot a mock raid on Mondragon's convoy of foraging aimed to lure him into a common act where he could destroy the Spanish army. MondragÃÆ'³n also hopes to lure the enemy into a trap.
On September 1, Maurice gave an ambush command to her favorite commander, her cousin Philip from Nassau. Maurice instructed him to cross the Lippe river the next day at dawn, hiding in the wood next to a Spanish convoy thought to pass by, and falling on his guard. Maurice's goal was to seize the feeding convoy, separate it from the guard and take it to the Dutch camp, forcing MondragÃÆ'³n to intervene with the larger army. Then, after MondragÃÆ'³n's appearance with the main army, Nassau had to retreat to the Dutch camp, thus provoking the Spanish army into an ambush. For his duties, Nassau received command of about 500 or 700 Dutch and British horsemen and was accompanied by his two brothers, Ernst Casimir and Ludwig Gunther, as well as several other Dutch officers, Count Ernst of Solms, Paul and Marcellus Bacx, and England captain Nicholas Parker, Cutler and Robert Vere.
Dutch intentions are anticipated by Spain. According to Joseph de La Pise, a French lawyer hired by the half-brother of Maurice and his successor Frederick Henry to write the history of Prince Orange, MondragÃÆ'³n had known about the ambush of British soldiers who had abandoned Dutch colors, but the Italian Jesuit Angello Gallucci claimed it was the eye - Spanish eyes informing MondragÃÆ'³n, who had been using spies to gather information about the enemy since the Zierikzee siege, in 1576. However, the Spanish general took steps to turn Nassau's surprise into a trap. The convoy, which is usually guarded by 300 infantry and 150 cavalry, was reinforced by 300 musketeers and a large cavalry force under Mondragon lieutenant Juan de CÃÆ'³rdoba.
Action
On September 2, at dawn, Dutch troops crossed Lippe across the pontoon bridge. Maurice waited for them with 5,000 infantry and the rest of the horsemen set up for battle in the hills near Wesel, along the opposite river bank. Philip of Nassau divides his army into four squadrons: the first of 125 under drossaard Sallandt, the second of 125 under Prince Kinsky, the third, of which Nassau and his brothers line up, 150 troops under Lieutenant Balen, and the latter, closing the road, of 120 men under England captain Nicholas Parker. Upon arriving in Krudenburg, Nassau sent 40 men selected from Balen-led companies to surprise the horses who were feeding. When they discovered a force far greater than they had expected, the Dutch officers thought that something was wrong and sent a report back to Philip from Nassau. The Dutch commander, however, believed that it was only a convoy escort and moved with his troops and his entourage to attack the Spanish cavalry, aimed at preventing his escape.
The report of the Dutch officers was not wrong: in the morning, two Spanish scouts had found traces of Dutch troops crossing the river, and MondragÃÆ'³n, anticipating them, had mobilized horsemen outside the beech, the countryside south of Lippe covered by small forests alternating with the moorlands. In addition to troops guarding the convoy, Juan de CÃÆ'³rdoba has commandos of at least seven cavalry companies: those of Hendrik van den Bergh, Girolamo Caraffa, Carlo Maria Caracciolo, Paulo Emilio Martinengo, his own company, 's-Hertogenbosch spear under Adolf van den Bergh and company Sancho de Leyva. Other authors also listed the company Alonso Mendo. MondragÃÆ'³n had informed the Dutch convoy guards of intent and encouraged the soldiers to defend their land, promising them that he was behind them with all the Spanish troops to come with help.
Commander 75 lances from Kinsky company, and followed by most of his troops, Nassau passes a narrow path in a small forest, and, out into the open field, is shocked by Spanish troops, ie by the men under Hendrik van den Bergh, followed by Carlo Maria Caracciolo and Pikes' s-Hertogenbosch. Harquebusiers van den Bergh, found a Dutch column emerging from the forest, fired a shot and, turned right, clashed with a Dutch scout, starting the action. Then there is a firece battle. Dutch troops were formed into eight squadrons, but aghast in a narrow alley, Dutch soldiers could not use their spears, so they were forced to defend themselves with swords and pistols. Philip from Nassau, his brother and their cousin Ernst von Solms were badly wounded and descended early in the fight. The Kinsky and Balen troops, who came with relief, were unable to rescue the wounded commander, and several Dutch soldiers began to flee the battlefield. However, Nicholas Parker, managed to collect the fugitives and, updating his actions, he puts a nuisance into the Spanish cavalry. The meeting then turned into a common act of wood, in the open ground.
At first the Dutch won the action, but after they made the mess of two or three Spanish squadrons, Paulo Emilio Martinengo attacked his company on their side and in turn directed the Dutch squadron, allowing CÃÆ'³rdoba to regroup his troops and renew the attack. , this time with success. Despite the stubborn resistance offered by Dutch troops, they end up broken and run away in an irregular way, trying to save themselves before the Lippe river. CÃÆ'³rdoba sent cavalry troops to follow them, and they found that some Dutch soldiers, who could not find a good place to cross the river, had drowned. Spanish prisoners were released, and the loot taken by the Dutch recovered.
Aftermath
The battle was noted for the heavy deadweight among the Dutch commanders. Philip of Nassau was seriously injured at the start of the shootings, firing at close range through the body with harquebus, his robe burned. Robert Vere, brother of English colonel Horace Vere, was killed by a puncture on his face. Drossaard from Zallandt and Count Ferdinand Kinsky were also killed. Count Ernst of Solms was seriously injured and arrested. Together with Philip, he was taken to Rheinberg, where the two soldiers were visited by MondragÃÆ'³n and their Catholic cousins, brother Van den Bergh, and were treated by a Spanish surgeon. Despite all the attention, the two Dutch commanders died of the injuries they had suffered; Nassau night after battle, and Solms three days later. Count Ernst Casimir was arrested and redeemed for 10,000 florins. MondragÃÆ'³n sent him to Maurice of Nassau with the dead body of the dead, who was buried with honor in Arnhem.
As for the battle losses, the sources vary. The Flemish Protestant Guillaume Baudart set a Dutch loss on 88 horses, 83 prisoners and 24 dead. Italian Cardinal Guido Bentivoglio claims that more than 300 Dutch soldiers have been killed compared to about 60 Spanish casualties. Roman Jesuit Angelo Gallucci also wrote about 300 Dutch victims. Spanish soldier and writer Carlos Coloma set Spain's losses when 19 people died and claimed that the Dutch troops lost three flags and about 400 horses that could be used. On the Spanish side, the only recorded soldiers among the victims were Caraffa, Martinengo, and Caracciolo, all of whom were wounded, but not dead. Joseph de La Pise stated that the Dutch took seven Spanish prisoners and 15 horses. According to Antonio Carnero, an accountant in the Spanish army, a French King's envoy to the Dutch camp was present at the battle and later found among the dead.
The English writer Edward Grimeston writes, in his book The General History of the Netherlands , that the battle of Lippe â € â„¢ is a bouquet of warm and icy pettie that proves but the bad Marchants have nothing " Although only a small battle, it was celebrated happily in the Spanish camp before the Cambrai.The three salvo were fired into the city by 87 pieces of artillery and 6,000 rifles and arquali.Northian historian John Lothrop Motley highlighted the key role played by the 91-year-old MondragÃÆ'³n in Spanish victory:
The dispute in Lippe has no special meaning in the military point of view, but it is more than passing interest, not only from the deaths of many courageous and distinguished soldiers, but for the illustration of the victorious human power, both physically and physically. mentally, over the weakness of old age, given by the achievement of Christopher Mondragon. Alone he had planned his expeditions throughout the country from Antwerp, alone he insisted on crossing the Rhine, while the younger army hesitated; alone, with his own active brain and busy hands, he had defeated the famous young leaders of the Netherlands, abolished his subtle policies, and set up a counter-attack in which his choice cavalry was cut to pieces, and one of the most daring generals was killed.. So far the cold blood of ninety-two won against the forces of twenty-eight.
Spanish and Dutch troops spent 16 days observing each other from their camp, but no significant action took place. Maurice from Nassau installed a bridge on the Rhine and tried to surprise Meurs, but the company was found. He also committed Prince William Louis of Nassau-Dillenburg to intercept five Spanish companies sent by MondragÃÆ'³n to stay at Twente, but the Spaniards managed to reach Enschede, leaving only a few trains with supplies in Dutch hands. On October 11, due to lack of food, Mondragon retreated to Brabant. Maurice aims to stop his retreat, but the Spaniard manages to bring his army to safety. MondragÃÆ'³n re-crossed the Meuse in November and distributed his troops in various cities. Before crossing the river, Swiss mercenaries are paid and robbed. On January 4, 1596, the elderly general died at the castle of Antwerp. On his deathbed he wrote a letter to Philip II asking for a castellany of Antwerp for his son Alonso and a spear company for his granddaughter CristÃÆ'³bal, but both requests were denied.
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