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Frederik Johan van Baer
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Frederik Johan van Baer
Frederik Johan van Baer, Lord of Slangenburg (27 July 1645 – 15 December 1713) was a Dutch States Army officer. He served under William of Orange in the Franco-Dutch War and Nine Years' War. He was to become a controversial figure for his role in the War of the Spanish Succession. While a talented general, he possessed a very difficult character. Slangenburg was often at odds with his fellow generals, especially the Allied commander-in-chief, the Duke of Marlborough. The fame he acquired as a result of his conduct in the Battle of Ekeren was unable to prevent his eventual dismissal during the 1705 campaign, leading writer Thomas Lediard to remark that Slangenburg: lost by his tongue what he had gained by his sword.
He was the son of Herman van Baer van Slangenburg (1610–1653) and Catharina van Voorst (1620–1678). In 1665 he married Dorothea Petronella van Steenbergen, who died the same year. Frederik never remarried.
He was a professed Catholic, and therefore was denied a career in government. A career in the army was the obvious choice. Overcoming the challenges posed by his faith, he had a distinguished career in the Dutch Army, participating in the Franco-Dutch War, the Nine Years' War and the War of the Spanish Succession. At what age he entered military service is not known. The earliest known mention of Slangenburg as a state officer dates from 1668, when he was already a captain of infantry. This makes it probable that he participated in the Second Anglo-Dutch War too.
Early on he already managed to make himself one of William of Orange's favourites. From the Rampjaar of 1672 onwards, promotions followed one another in rapid succession. On 27 October 1672, he was made a major in the first Regiment of Van Stirum and less than a year later he had already been promoted to lieutenant-colonel. In 1675 he was retroactively appointed colonel of one of the Dutch-Scottish regiments on the basis of bravery shown during the Battle of Seneffe. During several battles, he personally led his regiment into battle. On 11 August 1676, he suffered a severe injury to one of his femurs during the Siege of Maastricht and had to be carried off the battlefield. His brave and skilful performance at Trois Trous against Marshal Luxembourg brought promotion to brigadier a year later. In 1678 the Dutch and French signed the Treaty of Nijmegen, which ended the Franco-Dutch War. He became major general in 1683.
In 1688 war broke out again with France. Slangenburg didn't join William III during his invasion in England, but served with the Allied army in the Spanish Netherlands. In 1689 he would play a decisive role in the Battle of Walcourt. On 7 January 1690, however, he arrived in England to complain personally to William about his bad relations with the Prince of Waldeck, under whose command he had to serve. With Waldeck he had been in constant conflict. At the same time, he applied for the lieutenant-general position. When it became clear that William III would not give him his way in this, he threatened to resign and furiously announced that both Emperor Leopold and the Elector of Bavaria were vying for his favour. Slangenburg eventually effectively resigned from the States Army in 1690, but two years later, at William III's intercession, he was retroactively appointed lieutenant general of infantry.
During the War of the Spanish Succession (1702–1713), Slangenburg's military career culminated. He was among the commanders of the Dutch troops that came to fight the Franco-Spanish army in the Southern Netherlands under the supreme command of an Englishman, the Duke of Marlborough. Initially the relations between senior Dutch commanders were extremely poor due to mutual rivalries and antipathies. At the same time, the Dutch officers were suspicious of Marlborough, whose troops were largely financed by the Dutch Republic, perceiving him to be pursuing a risky offensive strategy which in the event of a French breakthrough posed a great danger to the defence of the Republic's land provinces (Slangenburg was from one of the land provinces). Slangeburg was involved in secret consultations in The Hague as early as 1702 of 'malcontents' from various regions who did not trust Marlborough's intentions and tactics.
Slangenburg gained widespread fame on June 30, 1703, during the Battle of Ekeren. There, he successfully averted the encirclement and destruction of a Dutch division, who Obdam had manoeuvred into a dangerous position, despite warnings from his Slangenburg and Tilly. During the battle, Obdam was forced to flee and hastily retreated to Breda with a small contingent of soldiers, after which the command fell on Slangenburg. Outnumbered by at least two to one the fierce fighting claimed the lives of over seven hundred Dutch soldiers (as well as a considerable number of French and Spanish troops), but Slangenburg managed extract his forces from danger.
As a consequence of the battle of Slangenburg's reputation was greatly enhanced the expense of Obdam's. Dubbed the 'hero of Ekeren,' Slangenburg managed to send several captured standards, banners, and kettle drums to The Hague, where they were displayed as symbols of triumph in the great hall of the Binnenhof. After his performance at Ekeren, Slangenburg became even more outspoken and assertive. He not only refused to support a request for Obdam's rehabilitation but also openly clashed with other Dutch commanders and Marlborough. During the allocation of commands for subsequent operations in Flanders in 1703 and the recommendations for promotions following the campaign's conclusion, he felt overlooked in favor of officers he deemed less qualified. He nurtured ambitions of attaining the rank of field marshal. While his arguments were occasionally valid and his insights often accurate, his strong desire for recognition, lingering resentment, inflexibility, and the fervor with which he expressed his opinions increasingly irritated, especially the English ally.
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Frederik Johan van Baer
Frederik Johan van Baer, Lord of Slangenburg (27 July 1645 – 15 December 1713) was a Dutch States Army officer. He served under William of Orange in the Franco-Dutch War and Nine Years' War. He was to become a controversial figure for his role in the War of the Spanish Succession. While a talented general, he possessed a very difficult character. Slangenburg was often at odds with his fellow generals, especially the Allied commander-in-chief, the Duke of Marlborough. The fame he acquired as a result of his conduct in the Battle of Ekeren was unable to prevent his eventual dismissal during the 1705 campaign, leading writer Thomas Lediard to remark that Slangenburg: lost by his tongue what he had gained by his sword.
He was the son of Herman van Baer van Slangenburg (1610–1653) and Catharina van Voorst (1620–1678). In 1665 he married Dorothea Petronella van Steenbergen, who died the same year. Frederik never remarried.
He was a professed Catholic, and therefore was denied a career in government. A career in the army was the obvious choice. Overcoming the challenges posed by his faith, he had a distinguished career in the Dutch Army, participating in the Franco-Dutch War, the Nine Years' War and the War of the Spanish Succession. At what age he entered military service is not known. The earliest known mention of Slangenburg as a state officer dates from 1668, when he was already a captain of infantry. This makes it probable that he participated in the Second Anglo-Dutch War too.
Early on he already managed to make himself one of William of Orange's favourites. From the Rampjaar of 1672 onwards, promotions followed one another in rapid succession. On 27 October 1672, he was made a major in the first Regiment of Van Stirum and less than a year later he had already been promoted to lieutenant-colonel. In 1675 he was retroactively appointed colonel of one of the Dutch-Scottish regiments on the basis of bravery shown during the Battle of Seneffe. During several battles, he personally led his regiment into battle. On 11 August 1676, he suffered a severe injury to one of his femurs during the Siege of Maastricht and had to be carried off the battlefield. His brave and skilful performance at Trois Trous against Marshal Luxembourg brought promotion to brigadier a year later. In 1678 the Dutch and French signed the Treaty of Nijmegen, which ended the Franco-Dutch War. He became major general in 1683.
In 1688 war broke out again with France. Slangenburg didn't join William III during his invasion in England, but served with the Allied army in the Spanish Netherlands. In 1689 he would play a decisive role in the Battle of Walcourt. On 7 January 1690, however, he arrived in England to complain personally to William about his bad relations with the Prince of Waldeck, under whose command he had to serve. With Waldeck he had been in constant conflict. At the same time, he applied for the lieutenant-general position. When it became clear that William III would not give him his way in this, he threatened to resign and furiously announced that both Emperor Leopold and the Elector of Bavaria were vying for his favour. Slangenburg eventually effectively resigned from the States Army in 1690, but two years later, at William III's intercession, he was retroactively appointed lieutenant general of infantry.
During the War of the Spanish Succession (1702–1713), Slangenburg's military career culminated. He was among the commanders of the Dutch troops that came to fight the Franco-Spanish army in the Southern Netherlands under the supreme command of an Englishman, the Duke of Marlborough. Initially the relations between senior Dutch commanders were extremely poor due to mutual rivalries and antipathies. At the same time, the Dutch officers were suspicious of Marlborough, whose troops were largely financed by the Dutch Republic, perceiving him to be pursuing a risky offensive strategy which in the event of a French breakthrough posed a great danger to the defence of the Republic's land provinces (Slangenburg was from one of the land provinces). Slangeburg was involved in secret consultations in The Hague as early as 1702 of 'malcontents' from various regions who did not trust Marlborough's intentions and tactics.
Slangenburg gained widespread fame on June 30, 1703, during the Battle of Ekeren. There, he successfully averted the encirclement and destruction of a Dutch division, who Obdam had manoeuvred into a dangerous position, despite warnings from his Slangenburg and Tilly. During the battle, Obdam was forced to flee and hastily retreated to Breda with a small contingent of soldiers, after which the command fell on Slangenburg. Outnumbered by at least two to one the fierce fighting claimed the lives of over seven hundred Dutch soldiers (as well as a considerable number of French and Spanish troops), but Slangenburg managed extract his forces from danger.
As a consequence of the battle of Slangenburg's reputation was greatly enhanced the expense of Obdam's. Dubbed the 'hero of Ekeren,' Slangenburg managed to send several captured standards, banners, and kettle drums to The Hague, where they were displayed as symbols of triumph in the great hall of the Binnenhof. After his performance at Ekeren, Slangenburg became even more outspoken and assertive. He not only refused to support a request for Obdam's rehabilitation but also openly clashed with other Dutch commanders and Marlborough. During the allocation of commands for subsequent operations in Flanders in 1703 and the recommendations for promotions following the campaign's conclusion, he felt overlooked in favor of officers he deemed less qualified. He nurtured ambitions of attaining the rank of field marshal. While his arguments were occasionally valid and his insights often accurate, his strong desire for recognition, lingering resentment, inflexibility, and the fervor with which he expressed his opinions increasingly irritated, especially the English ally.
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