Battle of Gembloux (1578)
Eighty Years' War · Gembloux, Spanish Netherlands (present-day Belgium)
Summary
The Battle of Gembloux, fought on 31 January 1578 during the Eighty Years' War (1568–1648), pitted rebels of the Spanish Netherlands, commanded notably by Emmanuel de Lalaing on behalf of the States General and William of Orange, against Spanish troops commanded by Don John of Austria and Alexander Farnese on behalf of Philip II. The battle ended in a Spanish victory.
Historical context
The battle took place during the Eighty Years' War, after the Pacification of Ghent of November 1576 and the withdrawal of Spanish tercios in spring 1577. Rebels of the Netherlands, united in the Union of Brussels, faced the army of Don John of Austria, governor-general of the Spanish Netherlands for Philip II.
Tactics
On 31 January 1578, Spanish cavalry commanded by Don John's nephew, Alexander Farnese, pushed back the rebel cavalry then attacked the rebel army, causing widespread panic in enemy ranks.
Consequences
The defeat hastened the breakup of rebel unity and ended the Union of Brussels. The following year Alexander Farnese rallied the Catholic southern provinces to Philip II: Hainaut, Artois, French Flanders, and Cambrai, in the Union of Arras, durably strengthening Spanish domination over the southern Netherlands.