Battle of IJsseloord

The Battle of IJsseloord took place on 24 July 1629 near Arnhem during the Spanish Invasion of Veluwe, aiming at diverting the Dutch States Army from its Siege of 's-Hertogenbosch. Count Hendrik van den Bergh instructed Lucas Cairo, governor of Lingen, to spearhead the invasion together with a detachment led by Matthijs Dulken, and secure a crossing over the IJssel River to enter the Veluwe. On 22 July the Spanish vanguard, comprising 300 Croat cavalrymen and 800 musketeers, crossed the IJssel near Westervoort, close to the point where it splits from the Nederrijn. The Spanish foiled feeble attempts by the garrison and militia of Arnhem to repel them and entrenched themselves while 1,800 additional troops crossed the river. Next day, a substantial Dutch force under Hermann Otto I of Limburg-Styrum attacked the Spanish position, but was rebuffed with heavy losses as a result of poor coordination between infantry and cavalry.