Breda in History

Appointed Captain of the Union

Appointed Captain of the Union

Appointed Captain of the Union

Appointed Captain of the Union

Captures the strategic town of Breda while Parma is fighting in France

Van Bylaer produced medals commemorating Maurice's capture of Breda by the peat-barge stratagem.

Maurice approved the plan to infiltrate Breda Castle using soldiers concealed beneath peat.

Van Bergen proposed using his regular peat barge to carry hidden soldiers into Spanish-held Breda.

De Heraugiere investigated Breda's defences and confirmed that the peat barge entered with little inspection.

De Heraugiere commanded approximately seventy-five soldiers hidden aboard the peat barge.

Van Bergen brought the concealed assault force through the waterways into Breda Castle.

Hohenlohe reached Breda with cavalry as the surprised defenders abandoned resistance.

De Heraugiere's men emerged from the barge and surprised the castle garrison before dawn.

Maurice entered Breda after the peat-barge assault secured the castle and forced surrender.

Maurice ordered Breda's defences modernised following the surprise recapture.

Beeckman posed mathematical questions that stimulated Descartes's early scientific research.

Beeckman met Descartes and encouraged him to apply mathematics to physical and musical problems.

Beeckman received Descartes's Compendium Musicae as a personal New Year gift.

Beeckman's journal preserved evidence of Descartes's early mathematical and natural-philosophical work.

Justinus mobilised soldiers and armed civilians to maintain the fortified city.

Maurice attempted to disrupt Spinola's siege without risking a decisive battle.

Justinus commanded Breda's garrison and organised the city's defence against Spinola.

Ernst Casimir participated in operations intended to pressure the Spanish siege lines.

Justinus faced worsening hunger and disease as the siege exhausted the city's provisions.

Frederick Henry continued Dutch efforts to relieve Breda after succeeding Maurice.

Frederick Henry could not break Spinola's fortified siege system before the garrison capitulated.

Justinus negotiated honourable terms once continued resistance became impossible.

Justinus surrendered Breda after a siege lasting more than nine months.

Frederick Henry enclosed Breda with siege lines and fortified camps.

Brederode commanded troops in Frederick Henry's army around Breda.

Frederick Henry opened the Dutch siege intended to recover Breda from Spanish control.

Henry Casimir led an unsuccessful cavalry attempt to surprise Breda before the formal siege.

Henry Casimir captured outer works that exposed Breda's inner defences to further attack.

Frederick Henry accepted Breda's capitulation and allowed the garrison an honourable withdrawal.

William of Orange assisted contacts between the exiled king and Scottish commissioners.

Ripperda signed the Dutch publication of the ratified peace.

Jongestall signed the agreement on behalf of the United Provinces.

Van Starkenborgh joined the Dutch plenipotentiaries ratifying the settlement.

Van Beverningh represented the States General during the Breda negotiations.

De Huybert participated in drafting and approving the Dutch-English peace settlement.

Under the Treaty of Breda the French retain French Acadia & French Guiana

Under the Treaty of Breda the French retain French Acadia & French Guiana

Under the Treaty of Breda the French retain French Acadia & French Guiana. The Dutch retain Pulo-Run & Dutch Guiana. Negotiates the Treaty Ends of Breda which ends the war. England gains New York & New Jersey

De Witt's government accepted a settlement confirming Dutch possession of Suriname and Run.