Siege of Groningen (1594)

Siege of Groningen
Part of the Eighty Years' War and the Anglo-Spanish War
Print by Hugo Grotius
Date 19 May – 22 July 1594 (1594-05-19 – 1594-07-22) Location Province of Groningen, Dutch Republic Result Dutch and English victory
Belligerents
Dutch Republic  Kingdom of England	Spanish Empire
Commanders and leaders
Maurice of Orange William Louis Sir Francis Vere	Francisco Verdugo Count of Fuentes Jarich of Liauckema
Strength
10,000 soldiers 2,000 cavalry	800 soldiers 3,000 civilians 5,000 relief forces
Casualties and losses
400 casualties	400 casualties

The siege of Groningen was a two-month siege which commenced on 19 May 1594, and which took place during the Eighty Years' War and the Anglo-Spanish War. The Spanish-held city of Groningen was besieged by a Dutch and English army led by Prince Maurice of Orange. The Spanish surrendered the city on 22 July, after a failed relief attempt by the Count of Fuentes.^[1]

In a period of more than five years before Groningen fell, all the key strategic positions which led to or connected the city in vital ways were taken one by one.^[2] The capture was decisive for the Dutch Republic as the last of the Spanish forces had been pushed out of the Northern provinces ending their domination.^[3] The city was then merged with the surrounding district and the transition to the new Protestant regime was followed by the expulsion of all property of the Roman Catholics as well as a complete ban on Catholicism.^[4]