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Dutch city Groningen held by Spain surrenders to Dutch and England army led by Maurice of Orange

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 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.

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. 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.

Historical Significance

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.

Events Before

  1. William Louis of Nassau becomes governor/viceroy of Drenthe

    William Louis of Nassau becomes governor/viceroy of Drenthe

  2. Vatican opens blasphemy and theological heresy trial against Italian scholar and wayward friar Giordano Bruno; proceedin

    Vatican opens blasphemy and theological heresy trial against Italian scholar and wayward friar Giordano Bruno; proceedings drag on for over 7 years [1]

  3. The Uppsala Synod is summoned to confirm the exact forms of the Lutheran Church of Sweden

    The Uppsala Synod is summoned to confirm the exact forms of the Lutheran Church of Sweden

  4. English Separatist Puritans John Greenwood and Henry Barrowe tried and sentenced to death on the charge of devising and

    English Separatist Puritans John Greenwood and Henry Barrowe tried and sentenced to death on the charge of devising and circulating seditious books

  5. Recantation of Loos, Dutch scholar Coinelius Loos recants his earlier written protest against witchcraft persecution in

    Recantation of Loos, Dutch scholar Coinelius Loos recants his earlier written protest against witchcraft persecution in Trier, Germany before officials in Brussels

Events After

  1. William Shakespeare's play "Romeo and Juliet" is thought to have been first performed; officially published early 1597

    William Shakespeare's play "Romeo and Juliet" is thought to have been first performed; officially published early 1597

  2. William I of Orange's daughter Elisabeth of Nassau (17) weds Duke Henri de la Tour d'Auvergne of Bouillion (39), becomin

    William I of Orange's daughter Elisabeth of Nassau (17) weds Duke Henri de la Tour d'Auvergne of Bouillion (39), becoming Duchess of Bouillon, until his death in 1623

  3. Nomenclator of Leiden University Library appears, the first printed catalog of an institutional library

    Leiden University Libraries is the set of libraries of Leiden University, founded in 1575 in Leiden, Netherlands.

  4. Astronomer Johannes Kepler has an epiphany and develops his theory of the geometrical basis of the universe while teachi

    Astronomer Johannes Kepler has an epiphany and develops his theory of the geometrical basis of the universe while teaching in Graz, Austria

  5. Spanish Mendaña and Queirós Expedition departs Callao, Peru, led by Alvaro de Mendan accompanied by 378 men, women and

    Spanish Mendaña and Queirós Expedition departs Callao, Peru, led by Alvaro de Mendan accompanied by 378 men, women and children in four ships to colonise the Solomon Islands (find Marquesas instead) [1]

More from the 1590s

Korean naval commander Admiral Yi Sun-sin begins his famous war diary "Nanjung ilgi" (included in UNESCO's Memory of the

Korean naval commander Admiral Yi Sun-sin begins his famous war diary "Nanjung ilgi" (included in UNESCO's Memory of the World 2013) [1]

Jacob van Neck's fleet leaves Bantam, Java in modern-day Indonesia with 1 million pounds of pepper and cloves and a furt

Jacob van Neck's fleet leaves Bantam, Java in modern-day Indonesia with 1 million pounds of pepper and cloves and a further half a ship full of nutmeg, mace and cinnamon

King Naresuan of Siam kills Crown Prince Minchit Sra of Burma in single combat, date is now observed as Royal Thai Armed

King Naresuan of Siam kills Crown Prince Minchit Sra of Burma in single combat, date is now observed as Royal Thai Armed Forces Day

William Shakespeare's play "Romeo and Juliet" is thought to have been first performed; officially published early 1597

William Shakespeare's play "Romeo and Juliet" is thought to have been first performed; officially published early 1597

Frequently Asked Questions

What happened on July 23, 1594?
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.
Why is Dutch city Groningen held by Spain surrenders to Dutch and England army led b... significant?
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.

Explore More

July 23 in HistoryYear 1594