The sack of Tienen

On 8 June 1635, a Franco-Dutch army, under Stadtholder Frederick Henry (1625–1647), arrived before the town of Tienen. Three weeks earlier, the French had entered the Spanish Netherlands and had joined up with the Dutch troops of Frederick Henry. Now, the joined forces had begun their march towards Brussels.

The purpose of the invasion was to drive the Spanish from the Netherlands. Pamphlets were circulated to exhort the people of the Spanish Netherlands to rebellion. The small town of Tienen was part of the first line of defence of Brussels. A Spanish force of 1,200 men under Captain Martino de los Arcos, well supplied with arms and ammunition, was there to defend the town.

Upon his arrival, Frederick Henry sent a trumpeter to summon surrender. He promised the burghers of Tienen their liberties and the practice of their religion. Without consulting the town magistrate, Captain De los Arcos refused. He stated that ‘the arms of his Majesty were in town and that it was not customary in such circumstances to surrender a place or town without having seen and heard one another, as both had powder and ammunition’. The next day, the trumpeter made two more appeals; twice he was turned down. Meanwhile, De los Arcos promised the town magistrate to surrender after the first skirmishes.

Surprisingly, there were no skirmishes before the main assault. Around 1.30 p.m. the enemy artillery opened fire and 6,000 men started the attack.