Anonymous: The siege of Utrecht (1515)

(Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam, The Netherlands)

A woodcut made by an unknown artist, after a design by the German artist Wolf Traut (1481-1520). This print is part of a set dedicated to the victories of holy roman Emperor Maximilian I (1459 - 1519). The woodcut shows a scene from the Hook and Cod wars (1350-1490), a civil war in the Western part of the Netherlands. The cause of the siege of Utrecht (1483) was a fight between the Dukes of Burgundy in the person of ruling Bishop David of Burgundy (1427-1496), and the Duchy of Cleves, which sought to replace him with Engelbert of Cleves (1462-1506). both men were supported by various other forces: Engelbert of Cleves was supported by the anti-Burgundian Hook and David of Burgundy by the pro-Burgundian Cod leagues. Archduke Maximilian I of Habsburg, who had married the Burgundian heiress, Mary of Burgundy, shortly after her father's death Charles the Bold, also supported David of Burgundy and laid siege to Utrecht in 1483. He attacked the city with 12,000 men and cannons. After a siege of 2 months, Utrecht surrendered on August 23, 1483. David of Burgundy was restored as bishop and ruled until his death in 1496. Woodcut from 1515.