Capture of Breda (1590)

Capture of Breda (1590)
Part of the Eighty Years' War
The Peat boat at Breda by Charles Rochussen
Date 4 March 1590 Location Breda, Netherlands 51°34′N 4°48′E / 51.567°N 4.800°E / 51.567; 4.800 Result Dutch-English victory[1][2]
Belligerents
United Provinces  England	Spanish Empire
Commanders and leaders
Maurice of Nassau Francis Vere Charles de Heraugiere (assault)	Paolo Lanzavecchia
Strength
1,700 (70 in assault)	600
Casualties and losses
One soldier drowned	40 killed or wounded[3]

The capture of Breda was a short battle during the Eighty Years' War and Anglo–Spanish War during which a Dutch and English army led by Maurice of Nassau captured the heavily protected city of Breda. Using a clever tactic reminiscent of the Trojan horse which became famous as the ruse with the Turfschip van Breda, a small assault force hid in a peat barge, entered the city of Breda, and proceeded to take it over resulting in a minimum number of casualties.^[4] It was the turning point of the war as the forces under Maurice were able to take the offensive.^[2][5]