Hermann Friedrich Cloedt Hermann Friedrich Cloedt ( c . 1555 – 1560 , 26 July 1586 ) was commander of the garrison at Neuss ( Nuys ) , near Duisburg , in July 1586 , when the city was destroyed by the Duke of Parma ' s Army of Flanders . He died in the defense of Neuss . Biography . Cloedt was born in Northelen , near Werl , the fourth of ten sons of Johann Cloedt ( c . 1527 – 1587 ) and Margaretha of Westphalia . As a young man , he served for several years in Henry III ' s army in France ; by 1585 , he served under the Dutch provinces , and in 1586 , he was in the force of Adolf von Neuenahr , when he secured the city of Neuss for Gebhard Truchsess von Waldburg , the Calvinist contender for the Electorate of Cologne , during the so - called Cologne War ( 1583 – 1588 ) . Sack of Westphalia . In March 1586 , accompanied by Martin Schenck von Nydeggen , who had switched to Dutch Service in 1585 , Cloedt went to the County of Westphalia at the head of 500 foot and 500 horse . After plundering Vest and Recklinghausen , on 18 March he and Schenck captured Werl through trickery . They loaded a train of wagons with his soldiers and covered them with salt . When the wagons of salt were seen outside the city gates , they were at once admitted , salt being a valued commodity . The " salted soldiers " then over – powered the guard and captured the town . Some of the defenders escaped to the Werl citadel , which his troops stormed in vain . When they could not capture the citadel , they thoroughly sacked the city . Count Claude Barclay , also known as Haultpenne , collected his force of 4 , 000 and besieged them in Werl . Schenck and Cloedt were thus attacked from the outside , and from the several hundred guards in the Werl citadel . They loaded their wagons once again , this time with booty , took 30 magistrates as hostages , and attacked Haultpenne ' s force , killing about 500 of them , and losing 200 of their own . After fighting their way through Haultpenne ' s force , Cloedt returned to Neuss and Schenck to Venlo on the Neuss river . Defense of Neuss . In late July 1586 , the Duke of Parma surrounded Neuss with over 8 , 000 Italian and Spanish troops of the Army of Flanders , and another 2 , 000 men under the command of Karl von Mansfeld . They grossly outnumbered the defenders of the city , reported variously as 1 , 600 or 1 , 800 , including largely farmers , citizens , shepherds , clerics , teachers , journeymen , day laborers , and various craftsmen . Prior to a punishing cannonade , the Duke offered terms , which Cloedt declined . The city , he claimed , had no authority to treat with him , as the city ' s rights and protection came from the Holy Roman Emperor himself . As the herald left , the journeymen hurled insults at him and the Duke of Parma . At the assault of the Rhine Gate , over 400 men were killed , and Cloedt was gravely injured . In short order , the fortifications were overrun , and 10 , 000 Spanish , Italian and Germans entered the city , intent on plunder and whatever else they could find . Cloedt was found in the abbey in the center of the town , and hanged from the window with six of his commanders . Aftermath . Eight of the buildings in the city remained standing at the end of the battle . A fire consumed most of the town that had not been damaged in the cannonade . The entire garrison of 1 , 600 defenders was killed , either in battle or subsequently ; over 3 , 000 civilians were also killed .