Reductie van Groningen

from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Siege of Groningen
Johannes Janssonius: The Siege of Groningen (1594)
Johannes Janssonius : The Siege of Groningen (1594)
date May 22, 1594 to July 22, 1594
place Groningen , Netherlands Coordinates: 53 ° 12 ′ 53 ″  N , 6 ° 34 ′ 13 ″  EWorld icon
output Victory of the Protestant besiegers, capture of the city
consequences Formation of the Province of Groningen and the Republic of the Seven United Provinces
Parties to the conflict

Republic of the Seven United ProvincesOrangists Orangists England
England kingdomKingdom of England 

Spain 1506Spain Spain
Spanish occupiers in Groningen city

Commander

Moritz von Orange
Wilhelm Ludwig
Ernst Casimir
Francis Vere

George van Liauckema I A. Francisco Verdugo

Troop strength
10,000 foot troops
2000 cavalry
900 soldiers, 3,000 citizens
losses

400 Spaniards, 300 allies

Groningen with its fortifications 1572, map by Frans Hogenberg .

The Reductie van Groningen denotes the surrender of the Dutch city ​​of Groningen to the troops of Prince Moritz of Orange and Wilhelm Ludwig, Count of Nassau-Dillenburg on July 22, 1594 . This marked the end of Spanish domination and connecting the city to the Dutch Republic , the city simultaneously with the surrounding Frisian districts of Ommelande merged, now the province of Groningen form.

The Dutch word reductie comes from the Latin reductio to reducere and means 'to withdraw' or ' to return '. In Dutch historiography, this means Groningen's return to the republic. The Reductie changed the political situation of the city and the surrounding provinces (Ommelande) permanently. The transition to Protestant rule was also accompanied by the expropriation of all property of the Roman Catholic Church.

background

The city of Groningen has always considered itself an independent city. The bishop of Utrecht ruled the city for a long time, but his authority was little. The city lost its independence at the beginning of the 16th century after it had to recognize Edzard I, Count of East Friesland , Karl von Egmond and finally Emperor Karl V as lords. However, the old rights of the city always remained untouched. The first diocese of Groningen was founded on May 12, 1559 with the intention of stopping the further advance of the Reformation . It emerged from the amalgamation of spun off parts of the dioceses of Utrecht , Münster and Osnabrück and existed until the city of Groningen was taken by Moritz von Orange . (See also Diocese of Groningen-Leeuwarden )

At the beginning of the Dutch uprising , it looked like the city could get its independence. However, she was suspicious of the developments. Ludwig von Nassau-Dillenburg appeared with his troops at the gates of Groningen after he had successfully won the battle of Heiligerlee , but was not allowed in.

The city was one of the signatories of the Ghent pacification in 1576 . In the discussions that preceded the establishment of the Union of Utrecht three years later , the city fathers got the impression that William of Orange wanted to encroach on the old city privileges. The governor of the northern provinces, Georg von Lalaing , Count von Rennenberg, although of a Catholic faith, had difficulty turning none of the parties between the rebels and King Philip II against him. It was not until the night of March 3, 1580 that Lalaing moved to the Catholic camp of King Philip II of Spain, which made Spain considerably more influential. This went down in Dutch history as the "betrayal of Rennenberg".

Due to William of Orange's military formation, it cost the city little effort to assure the deserter of its allegiance. This created a great danger for the republic. Friesland and the Groningen area had fully joined the uprising, only the strategic location of Groningen prevented the republic from growing together. However, the republic did not dare attack Groningen as it was protected by strong city fortifications.

Extensive negotiations were conducted between the city administration and the States General to find a solution. Council pensioner Johan van Oldenbarnevelt was ready to accept a solution in which Groningen would be recognized as a Free City under the formal rule of the Duchy of Braunschweig-Lüneburg and this also with concessions to the practice of Catholic religion. However, the Frisian governor Wilhelm Ludwig (Dutch Willem Lodewijk ) did not want to know about the relinquishment of sovereignty in favor of the Duke of Brunswick. A Free City would also undoubtedly want to regain its old rights in the Ommelands, which had joined the uprising.

inclusion

In preparation for the siege of Groningen, a battle raged over the foreshore entrenchments . Both the Spaniards and the States General had several such fortifications built in the environs of Groningen. Wilhelm Ludwig slowly but steadily conquered many of the Spanish fortifications, so u. a. in the battle of Zoutkamp , which closed the sea access to Groningen. While Moritz was leading his campaign in 1591 , plans to siege Groningen were already being made. However, difficulties were seen due to the strong fortifications and the existing supply routes. However, Delfzijl has just been taken, Groningen's remaining port connection to the sea. A year later, Groningen was separated from the Twente region with the conquest of Steenwijk and Coevorden . The Frisians now wanted to encircle Groningen, but the States General decided to besiege Geertruidenberg first . In protest, the Frisians only sent their troops with a delay.

Wilhelm Ludwig conquered the raised bog areas in the east of Groningen, such as Wedde , Winschoten and Slochteren . This cut off Groningen from Germany. For this purpose, Wilhelm Ludwig von Moritz received twenty companies (banner, ndl. "Vaandels") for reinforcement. Moritz himself had just conquered Geertruidenberg , so the Frisians again hoped that he would now proceed to the siege of Groningen. However, the extensive presence of Spanish troops in the south of the republic ensured that Moritz could not leave his main camp. Verdugo received a larger share of reinforcing forces than Wilhelm Ludwig, but these were not in time for Wilhelm Ludwig's troops to march in the high moor area. In 1580, Wilhelm Ludwig had Fort Bourtange built along the narrow road that led to Germany . The city of Groningen was completely cut off from its hinterland. Governor Hermann von dem Bergh asked Verdugo for more troops, but due to the approaching winter an attack on the fortress was unthinkable. Because the Groningen situation was getting worse, Verdugo decided to besiege Coevorden in the winter of 1593/1594 in order to force a new opening to the south. But the city was well supplied with food and could withstand. On the Spanish side there were many deaths from exhaustion and cold. Finally Verdugo was driven out by Moritz's troops.

siege

After the siege of Coevorden, the troops of the States General left the city on May 19, 1594 and positioned themselves three days later near the southern city fortifications of Groningen on a higher piece of land between the waterways Hoornsediep and Schuitendiep (today both in the Groningen urban area). Moritz gave the order to adjust the water levels within the dykes so that the lower lying land should be under water. He also had a canal built in order to bring his artillery in and to take some of the entrenchments scattered around the country . Only the ski jump at the hamlet of Aduarderzijl had to be taken in a storm attack. Now the warehouse could also be supplied from Friesland. In the meantime, the besiegers were hit by rain and a failure . On July 3, the gun was brought into position opposite the southeastern city gates Ooster and Heerenpoort . The expectations of the States General were different. While some predicted a long argument, the council of war was positive and expected only a short fight, as the Groningers were certainly also longing to be liberated from their long siege. The citizens of Groningen, however, persuaded their council not to enter into negotiations with Moritz. This was followed by a two-month battle in which the city was bombarded with artillery. 400 Spanish occupation soldiers and 300 allies fell. Nevertheless, the damage in the city remained minor. The city government had previously hoped for relief from Spanish troops. They expected support from Ernst von Austria . Although he gave Pedro Henriquez de Acevedo , known in the Netherlands as Fuentes , the order to relieve Groningen, Acevedo had trouble getting his war-weary and mutinous troops to do so. Finally relief was abandoned.

A battery of 60 cannons fired at the city's defenses. In particular, the east gate (Oosterpoort) was destroyed. At the same time, mine tunnels were driven under the Oosterpoort. The city saw no further way out than to surrender. But when negotiations between the city and the besiegers were about to begin, an uprising broke out among the citizens. Albert Jargens , one of the four mayors, was proclaimed the new leader and the fighting against the States General continued. Moritz then had the explosives detonated in the tunnel, which cost 150 lives. The troops of the States General were able to penetrate to the east gate and Jarges saw no other way out than to negotiate the surrender. Moritz and Wilhelm Ludwig were ready to talk about handing over the city on favorable terms. In fact, the city was promised to retain its old rights and freedoms, so that all fighting was stopped and Moritz and Wilhelm Ludwig could move into the city with honor. The Spanish troops, led by Lieutenant and (to date) Commander of Groningen George Liauckema , were given free withdrawal with their weapons and luggage.

Regarding the freedom to practice their religion, Moritz and Ludwig were unwilling to deviate from the line that Johan van Oldenbarnevelt had laid down before the siege. The request to keep at least one church for Catholic worship was refused. After the surrender, all the monks and priests who had fled to the city from the rebellious surrounding areas left Groningen with the occupation troops for the southern Netherlands. The city government was “purged” of Catholics and Catholic worship was officially banned in the entire province.

consequences

The capture of Groningen was a great gain for the republic. The entire north of the Netherlands was now finally brought to the side of the rebels. For the city and the Ommelande, the Reductie meant the beginning of a new and, as far as the Ommelande were concerned, a more forced collaboration.

In the treaty of the "Traktaats van Reductie" it was stipulated that the former provinces should be merged into one and thus become part of the republic, which Friesland opposed. Today's province of Groningen regards the date of the Reductie as the actual founding act of the province. This was commemorated in 1994 with a 400th anniversary celebration.

Traktaat van Reductie

The “Traktaat van Reductie” is a treaty that was signed on July 23, 1594. The city of Groningen was an independent administrative unit for centuries, with the status of a Free Imperial City of the Holy Roman Empire (German Nation) . Groningen had not formally acquired this position, but since the authority of the city's liege lord , the Bishop of Utrecht , was rather weak, the city itself developed into a kind of city-state . The city held the stacking rights and also tried to dominate the Ommelande. These, however, resisted, which resulted in armed conflicts over the centuries.

After the Spaniards had withdrawn, Prince Moritz began to unite the city with the Ommelanden with the assistance of the States General, in order to form the Republic of the Seven United Provinces with this newly created province . The seat of the provincial administration should be in the city of Groningen. The authors of the treaty foresaw that the amalgamation of “stad en land”, like the province, until it was renamed “Provincie Groningen” in the 19th century, would not proceed without friction and disputes. Although the new administrative structure within the association of the republic was formally independent, a regulation was made according to which disputes between the two provincial parts of Groningen should be submitted to the other States General for decision. In the middle of the 17th century, this set of rules also proved necessary, and politicians like Johan de Witt and the Frisian governor Willem Frederik van Nassau-Dietz struggled to maintain a new harmony between “stad en land”.

The treaty marked the final end of Groningen as the dominant city-state in “Noord-Nederland”. In order not to weaken the strategically important fortress and city financially, the States General left the staple right untouched. The treaty also served as the constitution of the new province of Groningen and Ommelande (stad en lande) and stipulated that the governor of Groningen would be assigned five elected men as jurors. These men elected the council and mayors of the city.

Commemorative coin

Golden pfennig in memory of the Reductie van Groningen

In the 16th century it was customary to depict major events on commemorative coins. The reduction was also recorded in this way. In Groningen, for example, a penny was minted on which a knight can be seen with a raised sword. In the other hand he is holding a shield with the city's coat of arms. All around the edge the words: CONSULIBUS IOH: DE DREEWS. MENS: AITING. REN: BUSH. REINH: CLINGE . The head of the knight is crowned with three small hearts. On the back there is the text: “GRONINGA Des Prinsen sweerd met Godes arm, Bragt Paap en Spanjaert in alarm, Als leugen voor het light verdween, Vienna suivre glans in Templen scheen, Een reghte vreugd voor klein en groot, The Groningen sluit in Haer schoot, Dit heeft des Heeren hand gedaen, En dese Penningen door slaen. REDUCTA, 1594.13.Julij “-“ The prince's sword with God's arm, Alerts Pope and Spaniards, When lies gave way to the light whose shine shone in the temple, A real joy for young and old, The Groningen closed in his round, That has done the man's hand, stamped (or perpetuated ) in this penny ”, and on the edge: MONUMENTUM REDUCT: CIVIT: GRONING: CELEBRAT: A: IUBEL: 1694. 13 MENS: IUL:
The silver and gold coins have a diameter of 47 mm. A bronze penny is not known.

The pfennig was offered to the city council, which gave it to members of the city assembly as well as certain other people. Similar coins were usually given away as a reward or given as an "honorary penny" on a gold chain. But this was not the case with this penny. These coins were kept by lovers in specially built boxes or showcases and were considered souvenirs. In later centuries they also served as historical object lessons for young people from high circles. Plaster casts of the precious coins or originals from family property were used as teaching materials.

literature

  • Robert Jacobus Fruin: Tien jaren uit den Tachtigjarigen Oorlog 1588-1598 , 1861, ( online ). (PDF, 2.2 MB)
  • Jan Wagenaar: Vaderland's history. Vervattende de geschiedenissen der nu Vereenigde Nederlanden, in zonderheid die van Holland, van de vroegste tyden af: uit de geloofwaardigste schryvers en egte Gedenkstukken samengesteld , 1790–1796, compilation (part 4), p. 387.

Web links

Footnotes

  1. Horst Lademacher : History of the Netherlands. Politics - Constitution - Economy . Scientific Book Society, Darmstadt 1983. ISBN 3-534-07082-8 . P. 75.
  2. ^ Folkert Postma: Vreemde heren. Opstand en Reductie, 1536–1594 . In: Petrus Theodorus Franciscus Maria Boekholt et al. (Ed.): Rondom de Reductie. Vierhonderd jaar provincie Groningen 1594–1994 (= Groninger Historische Reeks , vol. 10). Van Gorcum, Assen 1994, ISBN 90-232-2867-7 , pp. 64-87, here p. 83.