Siege of Heidelberg (1622)

Siege of Heidelberg
Part of the Thirty Years' War
View of Heidelberg with the Heidelberg Castle on hill and the Old Bridge.
Date 23 July – 19 September 1622 Location Heidelberg, Electorate of the Palatinate (present-day Germany) Result Decisive Imperial-Spanish victory
Belligerents
Electoral Palatinate  Kingdom of England	Holy Roman Empire Spain
Commanders and leaders
Gerard Herbert † Horace Vere John Burroughs	Count of Tilly Gonzalo Fernández de Córdoba
Strength
Approx: 15,000–21,000	Approx: 22,000–30,000
Casualties and losses
Unknown: 8,000	Unknown: 5,000

The Siege of Heidelberg or the Imperial-Spanish capture of Heildelberg took place from 23 July to 19 September 1622, at Heidelberg, Electorate of the Palatinate, between the Imperial-Spanish army led by Johan Tzerclaes, Count of Tilly and Don Gonzalo Fernández de Córdoba against the Anglo-Protestant forces of Frederick V, Elector Palatine, commanded by Sir Gerard Herbert and Sir Horace Vere during the Palatinate campaign, in the context of the Thirty Years' War. On 16 September the city of Heidelberg was taken by storm, and the Heidelberg Castle surrendered three days later to the Imperial and Spanish forces.

In 1620 the Spanish commander Don Ambrosio Spinola adopted Fabian tactics in the hope of wearing the enemy out, until the approach of winter compelled the English and their allies to seek quarters. Sir Horace Vere divided his troops among the three most important strongholds of the Palatinate. He himself occupied Mannheim, Sir Gerard Herbert he stationed in Heidelberg Castle, while Sir John Burroughs undertook to defend Frankenthal.

Early in 1621 the Protestant Union was broken up, and the English garrisons had to give up all hope of relief. The English governors were not closely pressed that year. The garrison under Sir Horace Vere at Mannheim received a visit early in 1622 from the dethroned Frederick V, Elector Palatine, who had promised them a diversion, and who, in conjunction with Ernst von Mansfeld, had inflicted a momentary check upon the Imperialist army under Johan Tzerclaes, Count of Tilly, at Wiesloch (April). A few weeks later, however, the Count of Tilly, having been reinforced by the Spanish army of Don Gonzalo Fernández de Córdoba, inflicted defeats on the Protestants, capturing a large number of German towns held by Protestants, and in June, Frederick V had finally to leave Mannheim.

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