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Battle of the Slaak, anno 1631, Wenzel Hollar, edited in Theatrum Europaeum, vol II, 1633 h 230mm × w 339mm., size of the map/print Figuerliche Vorstellung der Navigal Schlacht, so sich Zwischen Bergen op Soom und Wilmstatt, zwischen der Königlichen Spanischen Flott, und den Hollandischen Kriegs Schiffen zugetragen, den 13. Septembris Anno 1631 Artist Wenceslaus Hollar (mentioned on object) (Praag 13-jul-1607 - Londen 25-mar-1677) Copperengraving, edited in Matthäus Merians, Theatrum Europaeum, part II, edition 1633, little brownish, some small tears, cuttet on left margin, but the print is ok. Reference: Wüthrich, Theatrum, vol II, Nr. 67 From Wikipedia: "Battle of the Slaak Part of the Eighty Years' War Slag op het Slaak.jpg Battle at the Slaak, 12 and 13 September 1631 Date 12 and 13 September 1631 Location Slaak of Volkerak channel near Goeree-Overflakkee (present-day the Netherlands) Result Decisive Dutch victory The naval Battle of the Slaak (12 and 13 September 1631) was a Dutch victory during the Eighty Years' War. In reaction to an overland Dutch attempt to capture Dunkirk earlier in the year, Infanta Isabella Clara Eugenia of Spain, governing the Southern Netherlands for Philip IV of Spain, ordered a Spanish army transported on a fleet of barges to attempt to occupy the islands of Goeree and Overflakee by surprise. In particular, the Spanish wished to overpower the large fortresses on either side of the Volkerak Strait. The fortress on the continental side had special propaganda value, as it was a newly founded town named Willemstad after William the Silent; more importantly, Spanish occupation would have allowed a blockade of the Dutch main naval port Hellevoetsluis located to the direct north of Overflakee on the island of Voorne; and the isolation of the province of Zealand from its confederate provinces. A Spanish fleet of ninety vessels and 5,500 men under the direction of Don Francisco de Moncada, Marquis of Aytona, but in fact commanded by Count Jan van Nassau Siegen, a catholic cousin of the Calvinist Dutch House of Orange, mostly consisting of small transports, departed from Antwerp. The project could not be kept a secret however and a Dutch task force of fifty ships, also largely consisting of small rivercraft but containing some larger flyboats, under Zealandic Vice-Admiral Marinus Hollare, intercepted the fleet in the Eastern Scheldt. Seeing their intended route blocked, the Spanish first tried to capture the more southern island of Tholen instead, to show something for their efforts, but this attempt was thwarted by a regiment of two thousand English and Scots mercenaries under the command of Colonel Thomas Morgan from the continental fortress of Steenbergen who marched at low tide through the shallow sea to the island, arriving just in time to deter a landing. Van Nassau in his desperation then took the bold decision to attempt to sneak past the Dutch fleet during the night and so achieve the original goal after all. The Spanish movement however was noticed despite a fog; despite their small number the Dutch first allowed the enemy fleet to pass completely before cutting them off. Once this was achieved the Dutch suddenly attacked the Spanish from behind in the Slaak of Volkerak channel and were routed. Hundreds drowned as they tried to escape the ships and those that did escape were captured by the waiting Dutch and English troops ashore. Over 4,000 troops and seamen were captured along with the majority of ships. Van Nassau himself and two ships accompanying him managed to escape to Antwerp; it is not exactly known how many others escaped, perhaps as much as a third of his fleet. The Admiralty of Amsterdam suggested throwing all prisoners into the sea until that time the officially prescribed method for the Dutch to dispense with enemy combatants captured at sea to deter further attempts, but stadtholder Frederick Henry of Orange forbade this. One of the captains distinguishing. Seller Inventory # 8278
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