| Siege of Heidelberg | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Part of thePalatinate phase of theThirty Years' War | |||||||
 View ofHeidelberg | |||||||
| |||||||
| Belligerents | |||||||
 Electoral Palatinate Kingdom of England |  Holy Roman Empire.svg) Catholic League Spanish Empire | ||||||
| Commanders and leaders | |||||||
| Gerard Herbert †Horace VereJohn Burroughs | Count of TillyGonzalo Fernández de Córdoba | ||||||
| Strength | |||||||
| Approx: 15,000–21,000 | Approx: 22,000–30,000 | ||||||
| Casualties and losses | |||||||
| Unknown: 8,000 | Unknown: 5,000 | ||||||
  Heidelberg Heidelberg (Germany) Show map of Germany | |||||||
Thesiege of Heidelberg or theImperial-Spanish capture of Heildelberg took place from 23 July to 19 September 1622, atHeidelberg,Electorate of the Palatinate, between the Imperial-Spanish army led byJohan Tzerclaes, Count of Tilly and DonGonzalo Fernández de Córdoba against the Anglo-Protestant forces ofFrederick V, Elector Palatine, commanded by SirGerard Herbert and SirHorace Vere during thePalatinate campaign, in the context of theThirty Years' War.[2] On 16 September the city ofHeidelberg was taken by storm, and theHeidelberg Castle surrendered three days later to the Imperial and Spanish forces.[3]
In 1620 the Spanish commander DonAmbrosio Spinola adoptedFabian tactics[3] in the hope of wearing the enemy out, until the approach of winter compelled the English and their allies to seek quarters. SirHorace Vere divided his troops among the three most important strongholds of the Palatinate. He himself occupiedMannheim, SirGerard Herbert he stationed inHeidelberg Castle, while SirJohn Burroughs undertook to defendFrankenthal.[3]
Early in 1621 theProtestant 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 SirHorace Vere at Mannheim received a visit early in 1622 from the dethronedFrederick V, Elector Palatine, who had promised them a diversion, and who, in conjunction withErnst von Mansfeld, had inflicted a momentary check upon the Imperialist army underJohan Tzerclaes, Count of Tilly, atWiesloch (April).[3] A few weeks later, however, the Count of Tilly, having been reinforced by the Spanish army of DonGonzalo Fernández de Córdoba, inflicted defeats on the Protestants, capturing a large number of German towns held by Protestants, and in June, Frederick V had finally to leaveMannheim.[3]
The combined Protestant forces, now numbering 25,000 strong, positioned themselves on the western bank of theRhine and ceased challenging the invasion of the Palatinate.The English garrisons were now surrounded by a force of Imperialists and Spaniards under Tilly and Córdoba. Heidelberg came under siege by the Imperial-Spanish forces. Vere resolved to hold out, though he knew that the military position was hopeless.
In July 1622 it was decided that the Protestant force underMansfeld andBrunswick should instead march through the Netherlands to lift thesiege of Bergen-op-Zoom. When the Spanish learned of the move, Córdoba was hastily recalled to intercept them. He did so in the bloodyBattle of Fleurus on August 29, but the siege of Bergen still had to be aborted.
After 11 weeks of resistance, Heidelberg fell on 19 September 1622.[2][3]
The English commander of the Protestant forces, SirGerard Herbert, was mortally wounded during the siege.[3]
The progress of the Spanish was unstoppable, and after the fall ofHeidelberg, and the unsuccessful Protestant defense atMannheim, the Spanish army captured the town.[1] Finally, the defensive Anglo-Protestant forces under SirHorace Vere, after a futile struggle, were defeated and capitulated.[3]
OnlyFrankenthal remained loyal toFrederick V, Elector Palatine, defended by the forces of SirJohn Burroughs, but was taken one year later by the Spanish troops, thus leaving theElectorate of the Palatinate in the hands of the Spaniards.[1]
