| Capture of Valkenburg (1574) | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Part of theEighty Years' War | |||||||
| |||||||
| Belligerents | |||||||
| Dutch rebels |  Spain | ||||||
| Commanders and leaders | |||||||
| Edward Chester | Francisco de Valdés | ||||||
 | |||||||
TheCapture of Valkenburg of 1574, took place in early February 1574, atValkenburg, South Holland (present-day theNetherlands), during theEighty Years' War and theAnglo-Spanish War (1585–1604), in the context of thesiege of Leiden.[2][3] The fortress of Valkenburg (northwest ofLeiden), garrisoned by five companies of English volunteers commanded by ColonelEdward Chester, was of strategic importance to facilitate (or complicate) the Spanish efforts atLeiden.[2][4] In early February, when the Spanish troops (sent byMaestre de Campo DonFrancisco de Valdés) advanced over Valkenburg Castle, the English troops surrendered the fortress to the Spaniards and fled towardsLeiden.[3] Then, the Spanish forces entered and took possession of the fortress (Spanish:tomando la fortaleza a placer).[3] For the cowardice demonstrated at Valkenburg, the English troops were rejected by theDutch rebel army atLeiden, and finally Chester's troops surrendered to the Spanish army.[2][4][5]
Soon after, the English forces atAlphen (now calledAlphen aan den Rijn, southwest Leiden), were defeated as well, and atGouda, another English force was surprised and defeated by a contingent of Spanish troops, with the loss of 300 men and threecolours for the English.[6]
In April 1574, Francisco de Valdés halted the siege of Leiden, to face the invading rebel army led byLouis of Nassau andHenry of Nassau-Dillenburg (brothers ofPrince William of Orange), but the Spanish forces commanded by General DonSancho d'Avila reached them first, leading to theBattle of Mookerheyde.[7] The Dutch suffered a disastrous defeat, losing at least 3,000 men, with both Louis and Henry killed.[7][8] Finally, the rebel army dispersed due to lack of pay.[7][9]
