Battle of Mookerheyde

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Battle of Mookerheyde
Part of the Eighty Years' War
Date April 14, 1574 Location Mook en Middelaar, Limburg Result Decisive Spanish victory
Combatants
Dutch rebels	Spain
Commanders
Louis of Nassau † Henry of Nassau †	Sancho d'Avila
Strength
5,500 infantry 2,600 cavalry	5,000 infantry 800 cavalry
Casualties
3,000 dead or wounded	150 dead or wounded

Eighty Years' War

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

The Battle of Mookerheyde was a battle of the Eighty Years' War fought on April 14, 1574 near the village Mook and the river Meuse. An army of poorly paid mercenaries, hired by William the Silent to bring relief to the city of Leyden that was under siege by the Spaniards, moved north on the east bank of the river Meuse. The Dutch army was met by a Spanish army, led by Sancho d'Avila and Mendoza, consisting of 5,000 infantry and 800 cavalry. The Dutch army was led by two of the brothers of William, Louis and Henry of Nassau, and consisted of 5,500 infantry and 2,600 cavalry.

The ensuing battle was a disaster for the Dutch. Part of their army deserted during the action, shouting for money. The Spanish lost only 150 men. The rebels lost 3,000 men; both Louis and Henry were killed.