This is considered one of the most remarkable sieges of modern times,
from its cause, the parties concerned, the events, and the result.
The prince of Parma presented himself, in 1585, before Antwerp, at the
head of a powerful army. His operations commenced by the attack of the
forts of Lillo and Liestenstoech, constructed by the Dutch upon the
banks of the Scheld. The Italians conceived a stratagem which very much
facilitated the capture of this last fort. They got together a large
number of waggons, loaded with green hay, to which they set fire. The
wind carried the smoke directly towards the fort. Smothered and stifled
by this cloud, the garrison were constrained to draw a little on one
side, and the besiegers taking advantage of this short absence, mounted
the ramparts, and carried the place. The prince was not so fortunate
at Lillo. Mondragone, not having attacked it briskly enough, allowed
a reinforcement to enter, by which six weeks and two thousand men
were lost. This enterprise was abandoned, and the Spaniards contented
themselves with masking the fort on the land side, and stopping
the excursions of the troops who were shut up in it. The duke next
undertook to close the Scheld. In the month of September, he built two
forts, opposite each other; furnished them with artillery, and then
began the construction of a bridge, in appearance a chimerical project,
but upon which the success of the siege depended. The Spanish general
dug a broad and deep canal, two leagues in length, to facilitate
the transport of materials; this was called the _Parma Canal_. To
animate the labourers, the prince fixed his quarters in the village of
Beversen. The count de Mansfeld, lieutenant-general, commanded on the
Brabant side, and was encamped at Stabrock. Mondragone was intrenched
on the banks of the river, opposite Lillo, where he held the enemy in
check. On all parts forts were built, to secure the dykes, and prevent
the Dutch from inundating the country; communication between the city
and the neighbouring places was completely cut off, as was all means of
its receiving succour by the Scheld. The marquis de Roubais was charged
with the construction of the bridge. He exhibited so much activity in
this important work, that a speedy completion of it was hoped for.
The besieged, terrified at the progress of the Spaniards, were a prey
to the most serious inquietudes. In this wealthy place, every one
trembled for his property, and yet could see no means of escaping the
storm which growled over their heads. The firmest hearts were shaken.
It was given out that they would no longer sustain a siege which must
cost so much blood and treasure. Roused by this, Sainte-Aldegonde, the
mayor of Antwerp, ventured, though alone, to combat this resolution. In
speeches of fire he revived the fallen courage of his fellow-citizens,
he inspired them with republican sentiments, and induced them to swear,
with a common voice, an eternal renunciation of the yoke of Philip
of Spain. An edict forbade, under pain of death, the least approach
to accommodation with the royalists. The greatest ardour was evinced
for the defence of their country. To prolong the means of resistance,
provisions were distributed very economically, and every preparation
that could be devised was made to thwart the construction of the fatal
bridge which was to reduce Antwerp.
To prevent or retard this work, and destroy what was done, several
singular vessels were employed, which were to be filled with fireworks.
The redoubts the prince had built on the banks of the river interfered
with the cruises of the Antwerp frigates; a vessel of enormous size was
constructed, provided with large guns, for the purpose of attacking
them. This immense mass in some sort resembled a floating fortress. The
besieged conceived such magnificent hopes from this vessel, that they
named it _The End of the War_; a boastful title, of which the skill and
activity of the prince of Parma made the vanity known.
Already the staccadoes, which formed the butments of each end of the
bridge, approached completion, in spite of the efforts of the citizens,
who gave unceasingly brave and sanguinary battle. In one of these
conflicts, Roubais took Teligny prisoner, a captain equally brave
and skilful. The count of Hohenloe was named in his place. This able
officer did everything possible, both by land and on the Scheld, to
impede the operations of the besiegers. But, notwithstanding all his
efforts, they at length succeeded in procuring a sufficient number of
vessels to close the river in the middle of its course; and, on the
25th of February, 1585, the bridge was entirely finished.
The spot for this famous bridge was chosen between the villages of
Ordam and Calloo, because the bed of the river was narrower there
than at any other part. Its course made a marked elbow, which would
prevent the vessels of the enemy from sailing full upon the bridge. On
commencing it they had driven, on each side of the Scheld, long rows
of large piles, which were continued as far as the depth of the river
would permit. They were joined together transversely, and in all their
length, with very strong and solid pieces of wood: this formed what
they called _staccadoes_: that of Calloo was two hundred feet long,
and that of Ordam nine hundred. The space left between them was twelve
hundred and fifty feet. Upon each of these was formed a kind of place
of arms, capable of containing a body of troops sufficient to defend
it, and to protect the vessels which were to continue the bridge.
These were lined by a parapet, from which the soldiers, protected
from the shots of the enemy, could annoy them with their fire. The
two forts constructed at the two _têtes du pont_, that is to say, at
the extremity of the staccadoes, on the land side, protected the two
flanks of them; for this purpose they were furnished with a numerous
artillery. Batteries also were established in the places of arms. To
these precautions was added that of bristling, on both sides, the
staccadoes with large posts, terminating in sharp iron points. They
protruded a considerable distance; and great piles, driven into the
bed of the river, held them fast just above the water. It was proposed
by this to keep off the enemy’s vessels, and weaken their attacks.
When the staccadoes were completed, the vessels were brought up that
were intended to close the remainder of the course of the Scheld in
the deepest and widest part. Thirty-two barks, sixty feet long and
twelve feet wide, were selected for this purpose; they were placed at
twenty-two feet from each other; they were fixed in their positions by
two good anchors each, and were fastened together by a great number
of strong chains. Each bark was manned by thirty soldiers and four
sailors, and armed with two cannon at the extremities. The total number
of cannon distributed over the staccadoes and the bridge amounted to
ninety-seven. The bridge likewise was protected by an outward defence,
in order to secure it from surprise. It was known that the garrison
were preparing fire-ships, with which they meant to assail the bridge.
It was likewise feared that the armed vessels in the besieged city
might attack it from above, at the same time that the ships of the
confederates might attempt it from below. To secure it from this double
danger, some large rafts were made with a great number of masts solidly
fastened together, which were set afloat in the width of the bridge,
and presented a sort of rampart or large parapet to the enemy. This
immense work, which was two miles four hundred feet in length, required
for its construction seven months of incessant fatigue and application.
The engineers who had the direction of it were named Jean Baptiste
Plato and Prosperce Barrochio. It was the latter who formed the idea of
the rafts which covered the bridge. The duke of Parma, to reward them
for their labours, made them a present of all the materials, after the
capture of Antwerp.
The city, however, neglected nothing that might impede or destroy
this astonishing undertaking. It retained in its service a celebrated
Italian engineer, named Frederic Giambelli, a native of Mantua. It
was he who invented and brought into play those destructive vessels
since known by the name of _infernal_ machines. They were built of
very thick and solidly-joined timbers, among which were constructed
chambers for mines, proportioned to their size. These were formed of
good bricks and mortar, and required but one light to set fire to the
powder with which they were filled. These terrible vessels were loaded
with blocks of stone, bullets of different calibres, in short, with
all sorts of materials of great weight, heaped together as closely
as possible, in order that the effect of the mine might be increased
by the resistance opposed to it. Giambelli employed more than eight
months in getting everything ready. The large vessel of which we have
before spoken was not so soon completed. It was a ship with two very
lofty decks: the under one was armed with several large and small
cannon; the upper was a large place of arms, whereon were a number of
troops, who from the elevation of that deck could keep up a warm fire
of musketry. This enormous vessel had but two large masts of equal
size, placed at the two extremities, and of nearly the same shape. To
facilitate its approach to the redoubts constructed by the royalists
upon the banks of the river, it was quite flat, and only sunk into the
water in proportion to its weight, being kept afloat upon a vast raft
of enormous beams, supported by empty barrels. Such were the means
to which the inhabitants of Antwerp had recourse to keep open the
navigation of the Scheld. They had placed all their hopes in them. The
confederates were expected to aid their endeavours. A great number of
armed vessels awaited near Lillo the effects of the infernal machines,
with the view of acting at the same time. They attempted to recapture
the fort of Liestenstoech, and succeeded.
On the 4th of April at length appeared on the river the two redoubtable
machines called _Fortune_ and _Hope_, followed by some smaller
vessels. They were left to the tide, and, having nobody on board,
they floated, abandoned to themselves, and were carried by the reflux.
Scarcely were they in motion, than there burst from them a column of
fire, which, after having burnt for a few instants, appeared to sink
and be extinguished. The spectators were astonished. All at once one
of the smaller vessels blew up, when at a considerable distance from
the bridge, and produced no other effect than a cloud of thick smoke.
All that were constructed in the same manner proved equally abortive.
There was nothing to be feared but from the two large vessels, which
insensibly drew nearer to their object. The first, the _Fortune_,
ran upon the left bank of the river, burst with a horrible crash,
destroying the garrison of a neighbouring redoubt and a number of
soldiers dispersed about the environs. However serious was the effect
of this, that of the _Hope_ promised to be more terrific, and, in
fact, caused considerable damage. This vessel had been guided to the
point of union of one of the staccadoes and the barks which formed the
bridge. It was at this spot it blew up. The air remained for a long
time darkened; the shock experienced by the earth extended miles round;
the Scheld rushed from its bed, and threw its foaming waters over the
neighbouring country; the bodies of the miserable victims to this
explosion were so mutilated as to preserve no resemblance to the human
figure. The vast mass of stones and instruments of death which were
hurled abroad by this frightful volcano, falling in all directions, a
great number of unfortunates were killed, wounded, or bruised in the
most cruel manner. Five hundred royalists perished, and thousands were
either lamed or dangerously hurt. The death of the marquis de Roubais
was the crowning incident of this fatal day. The damage sustained by
the bridge was not so great as was at first feared; but the disorder
was so great, that if the enemy had attacked the work at that moment,
all would have been lost. They were quite ignorant of the effect
of their own machine; and the good face put upon the affair by the
besiegers led them to believe that the bridge had sustained but little
injury.
The citizens of Antwerp had now no hope but in the large vessel which
they had named _The End of the War_. It was put to work. This vast
castle drew near to one of the redoubts built on the banks of the
river, on the Brabant side. The men on board commenced a brisk fire:
they amounted to more than a thousand; they supported the effects of
the lower cannon by a continual discharge of musketry; they landed
for the purpose of attacking a redoubt; but in this they failed. The
fort braved their batteries, and their assaults proved useless. On the
other side, their enormous vessel was so knocked about by the artillery
of the redoubt, that they had much difficulty in repairing it, and
rendering it capable of being employed again. A second attempt was as
unfortunate as the first; and all the efforts made afterwards, either
to carry the works or break down the bridge, proved equally fruitless.
The most memorable of the combats fought on these occasions was that of
the counter-dyke. The field of battle was only seventeen feet wide. The
townspeople were desirous of carrying it, at any price. Animated by the
example and exhortations of Sainte-Aldegonde and the count of Hohenloe,
they more than once repulsed the royalists, and believed themselves
masters of the object of their generous efforts. But, overwhelmed by
the number of their enemies, rather than conquered, they yielded their
triumph, and retreated within the walls of their city, having lost two
thousand five hundred men and thirty ships. After this bloody victory,
which had cost him more than a thousand men, the prince of Parma took
from the besieged all the neighbouring posts that belonged to them, and
shut them up closely in their city. Despair was then at its height;
the citizens had no other prospect but the horrors of starvation from
famine, which began to be not only dreaded but felt, or the painful
necessity of yielding to the conqueror. The people assembled, and
openly opposed the leaders who wished to continue the defence; and it
became necessary to enter into negotiations. Deputies were sent to the
prince of Parma to arrange the articles of surrender. Sainte-Aldegonde,
who was at their head, protracted for two months, under various
pretexts, the conclusion of the treaty, believing by this skilful delay
he should give time for the succours he expected to come up. At length,
on the 17th of August, 1585, the capitulation was signed. The conqueror
then made his public entrance into the city, with all the pomp of a
triumph. Mounted on a superb courser, in complete armour, he marched
amidst bodies of cavalry and infantry, which opened and closed this
brilliant procession. Like other conquerors, though he had obtained a
sanguinary victory over a city which was in arms for freedom of action
and opinion, he ended his triumph by offering up thanks to the God of
Battles, who holds defeat and victory in his hands.