Battle of Turnhout (1597)

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Battle of Turnhout
Part of the Eighty Years' War
Date 24 January 1597 Location near Turnhout, Belgium Result Decisive Dutch victory
Belligerents
Spain (under Spanish Habsburgs)	United Provinces
Commanders
Varax	Maurits of Nassau

Battle of Turnhout, 1597 occurred during the Eighty Years' War where Turnhout was in the border area between the Northern and Southern Netherlands. Though the town had not been walled, Turnhout was an important strategic town. On January 24, 1597 on the 'Tielenheide' (this battle is also called 'The battle on Tielenheide') in a neighbouring village (Tielen), Dutch cavalry under command of Prince Maurice met and defeated a greater sized Spanish cavalry army under Varax. The Spanish cavalry was driven off, after which the Dutch troops burnt parts of the local castle. The ever prudent Maurice failed to follow up and turn the tactical victory into a strategic one.

[edit] Trivia

The defeat of Varax inspired the writing of the hymn We Gather Together.

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