page_title: Siege of Groningen (1594)
section_title: Siege
hierarchical_section_title: Siege of Groningen (1594) / Siege
caption_attribution_description: Deutsch: Die Belagerung von Groningen in 1594 English: The siege of Groningen in 1594. Frysk: It belis fan Grins yn 1594 Nederlands: Het beleg van Groningen in 1594
context_page_description: The Siege of Groningen was a two-month siege which commenced on 19 May 1594, and which took place during the Eighty Years' War and the Anglo-Spanish War. The Spanish-held city of Groningen was besieged by a Dutch and English army led by Prince Maurice of Orange. The Spanish surrendered the city on 22 July, after a failed relief attempt by the Count of Fuentes.
  In a period of more than five years before Groningen fell, all the key strategic positions which led to or connected the city in vital ways were taken one by one. The capture was decisive for the Dutch Republic as the last of the Spanish forces had been pushed out of the Northern provinces ending their domination. The city was then merged with the surrounding district and the transition to the new Protestant regime was followed by the expulsion of all property of the Roman Catholics as well as a complete ban on Catholicism.
context_section_description: On 22 May, the Anglo-Dutch force had arrived and began a blockade of the town. The plan determined upon was to open trenches and attack the south side of the city. Groningen beforehand, despite being a large town, was only garrisoned by 400 Germans & Catholic Frisians under Mayor Alberto Jarges. The walls of the city were well supplied with artillery, and as Maurice approached the city reinforcements of 600 Spanish and Flemish troops under Commander Jarichs Liauckema, Verdugo's lieutenant, entered the town by the Poelepoort which brought the garrison up to near 1,000. The city however had divided loyalties; the poor were deeply attached to the Catholic faith, but the burghers were concerned about the economy and therefore saw greater advantage with the republic.
  Maurice's headquarters was established in the village of Haren, from this position the approaches were made towards several strong points of the enceinte. Five siege-guns were planted against the Drenkelaar tower, ten against the ravelin of the Oosterpoort, twelve against the Heerepoort, six against the Pas Dam, and three against the bastion at the southern angle. Maurice ordered to stem the water that flowed adjacent with the land – small canals were built to carry his siege guns, and to take the supplies from the surrounding country. Few of the surrounding small sconces were left guarded by the Spanish, some were already abandoned and the only bastion at Aduarderzijl had to be taken by storm by troops under William Louis. With this capture the army could also be provided by supplies from Friesland. Vere, with his English contingent, worked side by side in the trenches with the regiments of Friesland and Zeeland. When the guns opened fire there was a steady and continuous reply from the ramparts, and although the Drenkelaar was partially destroyed, and much damage was done to the walls and gates, the defence proved to be stubborn.
  A crisis then arose in late May, when Queen Elizabeth ordered the return of her English troops with the need to send them to France because of the Spanish threat on Brest. Vere acquiesced and asked the Dutch to replace the English troops in the garrisons at Ostend, Flushing, and Briel in order to prevent a collapse of the campaign. This was done and the siege continued.
  On 3 June, the guns were placed in position opposite the Oosterpoort and Vere had lodged his men within the counterscarp and along the moat, where they were then exposed to gunfire. Meanwhile, the besiegers were hampered by rain, and a large sortie from the city was attempted on the Heerepoort, where the English were surprised with serious loss. Captain Wrey, standing at the head of the trench, was shot dead, and several men were killed and wounded before the Spanish were repelled.
  While some in the Anglo-Dutch camp were expecting a long siege, the vast majority were expecting a short fight, in the belief that the city wanted to become part of the Republic. The Groningen elite however had firmly said no to negotiate a treaty with Maurice as they had counted on a relief by troops from the Governor Ernst of Austria. He ordered Pedro, Count of Fuentes, to relieve the city and ordered the garrison not to enter into any negotiations on pain of death. In the meantime with this potential news the Spanish garrison fired furiously hoping to weaken the besiegers defences but it only managed to churn up the ground. Fuentes struggled to bring together his army of less than 5,000 men however because of mutiny in its ranks as well as Dutch cavalry harassing on its march. Eventually with disease, desertion, and casualties – the attempted relief was abandoned.
  The Oosterpoort by mid-June became the main focus of the besiegers cannon fire and the Dutch and English engineers dug mines under the strong ravelin in front of the bastion. News of this soon spread through the city and many within wanted to begin negotiations to capitulate. The town and the besiegers began negotiations but fighting broke out among the citizenry – Alberto Jarges and Liauckema ordered to fight on as a reminder th
caption: Siege of Groningen 1594 by Jan Janssonius
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