Battle of Heiligerlee
Categories: 1568 | Battles of the Eighty Years' War | Battles of Spain | Battle stubs | Dutch history stubs | Spanish history stubs
| Battle of Heiligerlee | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Image:Battle of Heiligerlee 1568.jpg | |||
| Conflict: Eighty Years' War | |||
| Date: 23 May,1568 | |||
| Place: Heiligerlee, Groningen | |||
| Outcome: Dutch rebel victory | |||
| Combatants | |||
| Dutch rebels | Friesland under Spanish rule | ||
| Commanders | |||
| Louis of Nassau Adolf of Nassau | Johan de Ligne | ||
| Strength | |||
| 3,900 infantry 200 cavalry | 3,200 infantry 20 cavalry | ||
| Casualties | |||
| 50 dead or wounded | 1,500 – 2,000 dead, wounded, or captured | ||
| |||
The Battle of Heiligerlee in Friesland on 23 May,1568 was part of the Eighty Years' War.
The Friesland province was invaded by an army consisting of 3,900 infantry led by Louis of Nassau and 200 cavalry led by Adolf of Nassau. Both were brothers of William I of Orange.
The Stadtholder of Friesland and also Duke of Aremberg, Johan de Ligne, had an army of 3,200 infantry and 20 cavalry.
Aremberg initially avoided confrontation, awaiting reinforcements. However on 23 May 1568 Adolf lured him to an ambush by Louis at the monastery of Heiligerlee. The ambush worked. The defending force lost 1,500–2,000 men, while the invading force lost 50 men, including Adolf. The rebels captured 7 cannon.
The invading force did not capture any cities and was defeated at the Battle of Jemmingen.
Adolf of Nassau is mentioned in the Dutch national anthem:
- Graef Adolff is ghebleven, In Vriesland in den slaech,