BATTLE OF THE ZUIDERZEE, THE WATERGEUZEN AGAINST THE SPANIARDS, 1573
“De Zeeslagh der Noordt Hollanders tegens den Graef van Bossu, op den 11 en 12 van October in den Jaere 1573.” [The Naval Battle of the North Hollanders against the Count of Bossu, on the 11th and 12th of October in the Year 1573.] Etching with engraving made by Jan Luyken for “Oorsprongk, begin, en vervolgh der Nederlandsche oorlogen” [Origin, beginning, and continuation of the Dutch wars] by Pieter Christiaansz Bor, published 1679-1684. Size (plate) 27.3 × 34.5 cm.
The Spaniards wanted to drive the Geuzen (protestant Dutch nobles) out of the Zuiderzee. The Watergeuzen were stationed with twenty-five ships under the command of Cornelis Dirkszoon near Marken. On October 5, 1573, the first skirmishes took place. The Watergeuzen had much less ammunition compared to the Spaniards and therefore tried to board Spanish ships to fight man to man on board. On October 6, hostilities continued: there were many casualties on both sides, but the battle was still undecided.
In the following days, there was a forced pause: due to the wind, the Geuzen were driven north and anchored at Hoorn. Only on October 11 did the wind turn again, allowing the Geuzen to set course for the Spanish ships. Heavy fighting resumed. Jan Haring, a legendary sailor, climbed the flagpole of the flagship and, to the loud cheers of the Geuzen, cut the admiral’s flag from the ship. We see him depicted in the print.
The Geuzen managed to chop down the mast of the Spanish flagship. When the other Spanish ships saw this, the remaining ships fled to the safe harbour of Amsterdam. Half of the Spanish fleet had been sunk. Left alone, the Spanish commander Count of Bossu surrendered.
In the foreground, we see fierce hand-to-hand combat in boats, with larger ships behind them. In the distance to the left lies the city of Enkhuizen.
Due to the earlier failed siege of Alkmaar and the lost battle on the Zuiderzee, Governor Alva‘s attempt to conquer North Holland was permanently thwarted.
Price: SOLD
