The Massacre of Naarden was an episode of mass murder and looting that took place in the Dutch city of Naarden during the Eighty Years' War.[1] The massacre was committed by Spanish soldiers under the command of Fadrique Álvarez de Toledo against the townspeople of Naarden as part of a punitive expedition against Dutch rebels later known as the Spanish Fury. The destruction of the city galvanized the Dutch rebels, leading them to continue the Dutch War of Independence against Spain.[1]
During the Eighty Years' War, William the Silent of the provisional United Provinces led a revolt against the rule of King Philip II of Spain. After years of Spanish military successes in the Southern Netherlands and Flanders, the revolt experienced a resurgence in 1572 when the Spanish were driven out of Brielle by the Dutch rebels. The capture of Brielle resulted in seven predominantly Protestant Dutch states renewing their support for the rebellion against Spain. In response, Philip II ordered Fernando Álvarez de Toledo, the Spanish governor of the Netherlands, to suppress the revived Dutch revolt and restore Spanish authority to the Netherlands.[1]
Álvarez de Toledo planned to re-establish Spanish rule in the Netherlands by capturing revolting cities and by driving out militant protestants, who had been one of the causes of original revolt. To this end, de Toledo organized a punitive expedition of Spanish soldiers and mercenaries.[3] These soldiers were poorly paid, and it is often cited that de Toledo either expected to pay his army through the looting of towns, or actively encouraged looting for the sake of demoralizing the Dutch populace.[4][5] In the fall of 1572, the elder de Toledo ordered his son Fadrique Álvarez de Toledo to capture and make an example of a number of Dutch towns, a campaign which would later be known as the Spanish Fury. On 2 October the Spanish army sackedMechelen, where soldiers looted the city for three days and killed several hundred townspeople. Mothers and daughters were raped in front of family members and men were tortured and murdered. De Toledo reported to Madrid that "no nail was left in the wall" in Mechelen. The town of Zutphen was attacked soon after, and suffered a similar fate on 14 November.[5]
News arrived in Naarden of the fall of Mechelen and Zutphen. The city was unprepared for an assault, and so a delegation of the city's residents began negotiations with the Spanish. It was agreed with Julián Romero that Naarden would open its gates to a small garrison force, surrender supplies to the Spanish, and that every citizen of the city would swear a new oath to the King of Spain. Instead, the Spanish army arrived in its entirety and entered the city on 22 November, taking up positions in the town square. The people of Naarden were forcefully assembled, then led into the town's church and guildhall. The Spanish army then set fire to the buildings and began to sack the town. Several hundred townspeople burned to death, while hundreds more were killed in the square or in their homes. Around 60 of Naarden's over 3000 inhabitants survived the massacre, with de Toledo stating in a report to King Phillip that "Not a man borne escaped" Naarden.[1] Several days later, the Spanish army conscripted peasants from nearby Gooiland to demolish the remaining buildings in the ruined town.[4]
Aftermath
Word spread of Naarden's sacking, often by way of the Spanish army itself. Contrary to the intent of the Spanish campaign, the destruction of Naarden became a rallying symbol for the Dutch rebels.[1]
References
^ abcdefArnade, Peter J. (2008). Beggars, Iconoclasts, and Civic Patriots: The Political Culture of the Dutch Revolt. Cornell University Press. ISBN978-0801474965.
^"Horror on Stage in the Dutch Republic. Re-thinking a Tableau Vivant from Joost van den Vondel's Gysbreght van Aemstel (1637) through Aby Warburg's Pathosformeln and Denkraum (PDF Download Available)". ResearchGate. Retrieved 2017-11-23.
^ abDavies, Charles Maurice (1841). History of Holland, from the Beginning of the Tenth to the End of the Eighteenth Century. J.W. Parker.
^ abMotley, John Lothrop (1871). The Rise of the Dutch Republic: A History. George Routledge and Sons.
August 28, 2023
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The Massacre of Naarden was an episode of mass murder and looting that took place in the Dutch city of Naarden during the Eighty Years War 1 The massacre was committed by Spanish soldiers under the command of Fadrique Alvarez de Toledo against the townspeople of Naarden as part of a punitive expedition against Dutch rebels later known as the Spanish Fury The destruction of the city galvanized the Dutch rebels leading them to continue the Dutch War of Independence against Spain 1 Massacre of NaardenPart of Eighty Years War17th century print depicting Spanish soldiers massacring the townspeople of NaardenDate22 October 1572LocationNaarden NetherlandsResultNear complete destruction of Naarden 1 BelligerentsSpainPeople of NaardenCommanders and leadersFadrique Alvarez de ToledoNoneCasualties and losses3 000 people burnt to death 2 Contents 1 History 1 1 Background 1 2 Massacre of Naarden 1 3 Aftermath 2 ReferencesHistory EditBackground Edit During the Eighty Years War William the Silent of the provisional United Provinces led a revolt against the rule of King Philip II of Spain After years of Spanish military successes in the Southern Netherlands and Flanders the revolt experienced a resurgence in 1572 when the Spanish were driven out of Brielle by the Dutch rebels The capture of Brielle resulted in seven predominantly Protestant Dutch states renewing their support for the rebellion against Spain In response Philip II ordered Fernando Alvarez de Toledo the Spanish governor of the Netherlands to suppress the revived Dutch revolt and restore Spanish authority to the Netherlands 1 Alvarez de Toledo planned to re establish Spanish rule in the Netherlands by capturing revolting cities and by driving out militant protestants who had been one of the causes of original revolt To this end de Toledo organized a punitive expedition of Spanish soldiers and mercenaries 3 These soldiers were poorly paid and it is often cited that de Toledo either expected to pay his army through the looting of towns or actively encouraged looting for the sake of demoralizing the Dutch populace 4 5 In the fall of 1572 the elder de Toledo ordered his son Fadrique Alvarez de Toledo to capture and make an example of a number of Dutch towns a campaign which would later be known as the Spanish Fury On 2 October the Spanish army sacked Mechelen where soldiers looted the city for three days and killed several hundred townspeople Mothers and daughters were raped in front of family members and men were tortured and murdered De Toledo reported to Madrid that no nail was left in the wall in Mechelen The town of Zutphen was attacked soon after and suffered a similar fate on 14 November 5 Massacre of Naarden Edit Massacre of Naarden by Flemish painter Frans HogenbergNews arrived in Naarden of the fall of Mechelen and Zutphen The city was unprepared for an assault and so a delegation of the city s residents began negotiations with the Spanish It was agreed with Julian Romero that Naarden would open its gates to a small garrison force surrender supplies to the Spanish and that every citizen of the city would swear a new oath to the King of Spain Instead the Spanish army arrived in its entirety and entered the city on 22 November taking up positions in the town square The people of Naarden were forcefully assembled then led into the town s church and guildhall The Spanish army then set fire to the buildings and began to sack the town Several hundred townspeople burned to death while hundreds more were killed in the square or in their homes Around 60 of Naarden s over 3000 inhabitants survived the massacre with de Toledo stating in a report to King Phillip that Not a man borne escaped Naarden 1 Several days later the Spanish army conscripted peasants from nearby Gooiland to demolish the remaining buildings in the ruined town 4 Aftermath Edit Word spread of Naarden s sacking often by way of the Spanish army itself Contrary to the intent of the Spanish campaign the destruction of Naarden became a rallying symbol for the Dutch rebels 1 References Edit a b c d e f Arnade Peter J 2008 Beggars Iconoclasts and Civic Patriots The Political Culture of the Dutch Revolt Cornell University Press ISBN 978 0801474965 Netherlands Revolt against Spain 1517 88 Horror on Stage in the Dutch Republic Re thinking a Tableau Vivant from Joost van den Vondel s Gysbreght van Aemstel 1637 through Aby Warburg s Pathosformeln and Denkraum PDF Download Available ResearchGate Retrieved 2017 11 23 a b Davies Charles Maurice 1841 History of Holland from the Beginning of the Tenth to the End of the Eighteenth Century J W Parker a b Motley John Lothrop 1871 The Rise of the Dutch Republic A History George Routledge and Sons Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Massacre of Naarden amp oldid 1136458728, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
