Massacre of Naarden

Massacre of Naarden
Part of Eighty Years' War

17th century print depicting Spanish soldiers massacring the townspeople of Naarden
Date1 December 1572[1]
Location
Naarden, Netherlands
Result Near-complete destruction of Naarden[2]
Belligerents
Spain Spain People of Naarden
Commanders and leaders
Spain Fadrique Álvarez de Toledo None
Casualties and losses
3,000 people burnt to death[3]

The Massacre of Naarden was an episode of mass murder and looting that took place in the Dutch city of Naarden during the Eighty Years' War.[2] The massacre was committed by Spanish soldiers under the command of Fadrique Álvarez de Toledo against the townspeople of Naarden as part of a punitive expedition against Dutch rebels later known as the Spanish Fury. The destruction of the city galvanized the Dutch rebels, leading them to continue the Dutch War of Independence against Spain.[2]

  1. ^ Henk van Nierop, Treason in the Northern Quarter: War, Terror, and the Rule of Law in the Dutch Revolt, trans. J. C. Grayson (Princeton University Press, 2009). p. 70
  2. ^ a b c Arnade, Peter J. (2008). Beggars, Iconoclasts, and Civic Patriots: The Political Culture of the Dutch Revolt. Cornell University Press. ISBN 978-0801474965.
  3. ^ "Netherlands Revolt against Spain 1517-88"