The siege of Zierikzee was a siege in the

Eighty Years' War The Eighty Years' War or Dutch Revolt ( nl, Nederlandse Opstand) ( c.1566/1568–1648) was an armed conflict in the Habsburg Netherlands between disparate groups of rebels and the Spanish government. The causes of the war included the Refo ...

between October 1575 and July 1576.

History

When Modragón lay siege to the city, Zierikzee had had enough time to prepare their defenses because the preceding siege of

Bommenede Bommenede or Bommenee is a former island, village, and municipality in the Netherlands, located about 5 km east of the city of Brouwershaven. Village of Bommenede Bommenede was founded in the early 12th century by monks of the Cistercian mona ...

had taken Modragón 20 days, which was a long time for a relative small city.
The Spanish couldn't storm Zierikzee, and therefore tried to cut off all supplies to the city. Until February 1576, despite heavy fire, small Dutch vessels were able to reach and supply the city. the defenders also did several sorties which inflicted casualties and damage on the Spanish. But by March, the Spanish had sealed all access to the city. The Dutch under Admiral

Lodewijk van Boisot Lodewijk () is the Dutch name for Louis. In specific it may refer to: Given name Literature * Lodewijk Hartog van Banda (1916–2006), Dutch comic strip writer * Lodewijk Paul Aalbrecht Boon, (1912-1979) Flemish writer * Lodewijk van Deyssel, ...

and

William the Silent William the Silent (24 April 153310 July 1584), also known as William the Taciturn (translated from nl, Willem de Zwijger), or, more commonly in the Netherlands, William of Orange ( nl, Willem van Oranje), was the main leader of the Dutch Re ...

made 3 attempts to break the siege. On 11 April a major sea battle was fought, but ended indecisively. A second attack on 27 May failed because the Spanish had been warned. Furthermore, Admiral Boisot was killed. After a third failed attempt, the Dutch withdrew on 13 June. Hunger now forced the defenders to start negotiations, which were concluded on 29 July. The garrison was allowed to leave the city, but Zierikzee had to pay 100,000 gulden. The city was occupied by the Spanish. But on 12 July a mutiny broke out among the Spanish troops, who didn't receive their long overdue and promised pay. They extorted money and goods from the population and abandoned Zierikzee on 3 November. They headed to Brabant, and Modragón had no option but to follow his troops. File:Tachtigjarigeoorlog-1576a.png, The Low Countries in 1576 just after the taking of Zierikzee File:Tachtigjarigeoorlog-1576-1577.png, The Low Countries one year later after the mutinies

References

{{Reflist

Sources

VAN OPSTAND TOT OORLOG (in Dutch) (p107-p 110)
Zierikzee Zierikzee Conflicts in 1575 Conflicts in 1576 1575 in Europe 1576 in the Habsburg Netherlands Battles in Zeeland History of Zierikzee