Dutch Revolt
Date April 1, 1572 Location Brill, The Netherlands Result Decisive Dutch Victory
Belligerents
Dutch Rebels	Spain
Commanders
William van der Marck[1]	None
Strength
600 Soldiers 25 Ships [1]	None
Casualties and losses
None	None

Dutch Revolt Oosterweel – Rheindalen – Heiligerlee – Jemmingen – Jodoigne – Brielle – Haarlem – Flushing – Borsele – Zuiderzee – Alkmaar – Leiden – Reimerswaal – Mookerheyde – Gembloux – Maastricht – 1st Breda – Antwerp – Boksum – Zutphen – 1st Bergen op Zoom – Gravelines – 2nd Breda – Turnhout – Nieuwpoort – Ostend – Sluys – Gibraltar – 2nd Bergen op Zoom –3rd Breda – Groenlo - Bay of Matanzas – 's-Hertogenbosch – Maastricht – 4th Breda – Kallo – The Downs – Hulst – Puerto de Cavite

The Capture of Brielle by the Sea Beggars, or Watergeuzen, on 1 April 1572 marked a turning point in the uprising of the Low Countries against Spain in the Eighty Years' War. Militarily the success was minor, as Brielle was not being defended at the time. It did, however, provide the first foothold on land for the rebels at a time when the rebellion was all but crushed, and it offered the sign for a new revolt throughout the Netherlands. Over the next years the decision of the northern provinces to join the rebels would form the beginning of the Dutch Republic.

Overview

The Sea Beggars were led by William van der Marck, Lord of Lumey. After they were expelled from England, they needed a place to shelter their 25 ships.^[1] As they sailed towards Brill, they were surprised to find out that the Spanish garrison had left in order to deal with trouble in Utrecht. On the evening of April 1, the 600 men sacked the undefended port. As they were preparing the leave, one of the men said there was no reason they should leave where they were.^[2] After the capture a number of Catholic monks and priests were executed without a trial, the so-called "martyrs of Gorcum", who were later canonized.

Citations

References

• Elliott, John Huxtable (2000). Europe Divided, 1559-1598, 2nd, Oxford: Blackwell Publishing. ISBN 0631217800. 

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