Battle of Brouwershaven

The Battle of Brouwershaven was fought on January 13, 1426 in Brouwershaven, Zeeland.

The battle was part of the Hook and Cod wars waged over control of the Low Countries. Jacqueline of Hainaut, leader of the Hooks, drew most of her support from the petty nobility. She had raised an army from the nobles of Zeeland, and her second husband, Humphrey, Duke of Gloucester sent a force of English troops to reinforce her there. Her opponents, the Cods, were extracted largely from the burghers of the cities. However, Jacqueline's first husband, John IV, Duke of Brabant, had taken up their cause, and involved his cousin Philip III, Duke of Burgundy in the war.

The Duke of Burgundy personally led the troops advancing on Brouwershaven, consising of his own feudal retainers and municipal militia from Dordrecht, The Hague, and Delft. The Zeelander forces allowed their opponents to land unopposed from boats, perhaps hoping for an Agincourt-like triumph with the aid of their English allies. The English troops were bombarded with a cannonade and a volley of Arbalest bolts from the militia. The well disciplined English Longbowmen however stood firm and then opened fire with their English longbows quickly scattering the crossbowmen in disarray. However the well-armored and equally disciplined Burgundian knights were able to advance and come to grips with the English men-at-arms. Unable to withstand the fierce relentless attack of the knights the English Men at arms and archers were driven onto a dike and were brutally wiped out. [cite book | title=The Artillery of the Dukes of Burgundy | first=Robert Douglas | last=Smith | coauthors=Kelly DeVries | page=96 | publisher=Boydell Press | year=2005 | isbn=1843831627] The "Chronyk en Historie van Zeeland" of Janus Reygersberg records that three thousand of them were killed, and many captured. A number of the local nobility are also recorded to have been killed in the battle.

The loss was devastating to Jacqueline's cause. Duke Humphrey was increasingly preoccupied with politics at home, and had become infatuated with Eleanor Cobham, one of Jacqueline's ladies-in-waiting. In 1428, he had their marriage dissolved and married Eleanor. Without foreign support, Jacqueline was unable to resist the full strength of Burgundy, and she was compelled to surrender the administration of her territories to Philip.

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