Siege of Schenckenschans (1599)

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Siege of Schenkenschans (1599)

From 28 April to 2 May 1599, during the Eighty Years’ War and the Anglo-Spanish War, Schenkenschans a strong fort at the mouth of the Rhine and Waal, in today’s western Germany, was attacked. The garrison was mainly English troops fighting with the Dutch Republic, commanded by Maurice of Orange. The Spanish, led by Francisco de Mendoza, aimed to capture the fort, which they called “The Key to the islands,” to cut Holland off from its river routes.

Mendoza combined his forces with Frederik van den Bergh, bringing about about 19,000 men (including 2,000 cavalry). They set up batteries on both river banks and bombarded Schenkenschans, but the fort’s defenders replied strongly and kept the attack from breaking through. With the garrison short on relief, the siege continued.

On the night of 1 May, a Dutch relief force of about 5,000 men under Claude La Barlotte landed upriver and began moving toward the fort. When Mendoza learned of the approach, he decided to break off the siege to confront the relief. Two days later, Maurice sent a cavalry force of 800 to Schenkenschans to lift the siege.

Mendoza’s plans afterward shifted to other targets, including Crevecoeur and Zaltbommel, but Maurice anticipated these moves. The Spanish failed to take Zaltbommel, and Schenkenschans stayed in Dutch hands.

The fort remained Dutch-English until 1630, when betrayal allowed the Spanish to seize it. The 1599 siege ended in a Dutch-English victory because a timely relief prevented its capture.