Editing Maarten Tromp (section)

===Eighty Years' War===
[[File:Maerten Harpertsz Tromp (1597-1653). Luitenant-admiraal, SK-A-838.jpg|thumb|upright=0.9|{{center|&nbsp;&nbsp;Maarten van Tromp<br> <small>by [[Jan Lievens]]&nbsp;&nbsp;</small>}} ]]

During the [[Eighty Years' War]] (1568–1648), Tromp was appointed as full captain in 1629 at the initiative of [[stadtholder]] [[Frederick Henry, Prince of Orange|Frederick Henry]] himself, where Tromp demonstrated that he was very successful in fighting the [[Dunkirkers]] as a squadron commander, functioning as a [[commandeur]] on the ''Vliegende Groene Draeck''. Despite receiving four honorary golden chains, he was not promoted further. The ''Vliegende Groene Draeck'' foundered and new heavy vessels were reserved for the flag officers while Tromp was relegated to the old ''Prins Hendrik''.<ref>[[#vere1955|Vere, 1955]], p. 47</ref><ref name=harpetszoonessay/> After Tromp's first wife died in 1634, with whom he had three sons left for Tromp to support, he subsequently left the naval service that year in disappointment. He became a [[deacon]] and married Alijth Jacobsdochter Arckenboudt, the daughter of Brill's wealthy [[schepen]] and tax collector, on 12 September 1634.<ref name=harpetszoonessay/>

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In 1637 Tromp re-enlisted in the Dutch navy and was promoted from captain to [[Lieutenant-Admiral]] of Holland and West Frisia,  under the Stadtholder, [[Frederick Henry, Prince of Orange]]. This occurred following the resignation of Lieutenant-Admiral Philips van Dorp, and the dismissal of Vice-Admiral Jasper Liefhebber, and other flag officers due to incompetence, neglecting the Dutch navy which had fallen into a deplorable state, with several captains resigning their commissions and seeking service with the army.<ref name=wijn42>[[#wijn1997|Wijn, 1997]], p. 42</ref><ref>[[#mets1902|Mets, 1902]], p. 128</ref> With the resignation of van Dorp on 27 October the States of Holland once again asked Tromp  to accept the command of the Dutch navy.<ref name=hinds328>[[#hinds1864|Hinds (ed.), 1864]], v. xxiv, p. 328</ref> Tromp accepted but under the conditions that afforded him greater authority than was allowed for the navy’s previous commanders, remembering how badly the fleet had been neglected by them under van Dorp. Tromp insisted on a greater number of ships, which were to be well outfitted with supplies, and well manned. The States gave Tromp their solemn promise that they would grant all his requests. The terms of Tromp’s official appointment from the Stadtholder further strengthened his position. [[Witte de With]],  a year younger, very brave but brutal and ill-tempered, was appointed as his vice-admiral. Both were  born in Den Briel and served as flag captains under Piet Hein.<ref>Journal of Maarten Tromp, C.R. Boxer</ref> Although formally ranking under the [[Admiral-General]] [[Frederick Henry of Orange]], he was the ''de facto'' supreme commander of the Dutch fleet, as the [[stadtholder]]s never fought at sea. Tromp was mostly occupied with blockading the privateer port of [[Dunkirk]].<ref name=wijn42/><ref name=hinds328/>

With his flagship, the ''[[Aemilia (1632)|Aemilia]]'', Tromp promptly re-established the neglected blockade of Dunkirk and took steps to hinder the transportation of Spanish troops to Flanders.<ref name=jones40>[[#jones1966|Jones, 1966]], p. 40</ref> Tromp out-maneuvered Oquendo's fleet which was bound for Flanders but was forced to retreat to England at [[The Downs (ship anchorage)|the Downs]], behind the sandbanks of the [[Kent|Kentish coast]], where they remained trapped, while a prolonged debate preceding the [[Wars of the Three Kingdoms]] continued in London. Tromp was already familiar with the channel from his cruising during 1637 and 1638, and sailed to [[Calais]] Roads, blocking the southwestern entrance of [[Dunkirk]], where he resupplied his fleet from Calais with the support of [[Cardinal Richelieu]]. Now with a reinforced fleet Tromp, in spite of the objection of [[Charles I of England|Charles I]], who was on good terms with the Spain,.<ref name=israel537>[[#israel1995|Israel, 1995]], p. 537</ref>{{efn|Tromp had received secret instructions from the Stadholder,  [[Frederick Henry, Prince of Orange]], to disregard English objections.<ref name=israel537/>}}  attacked on 21 October, during the [[Battle of the Downs]], destroying a large proportion of Oquendo's armada.<ref>[[#stradling1979|Stradling, 1979]], p. 208</ref>  During the [[Fight in the Channel]], a preliminary action to the Downs, Tromp was the first fleet commander known for the deliberate use of [[line of battle]] tactics,<ref name=jones40/> marking the end of Spanish naval power.<ref>[[#warner1963|Warner, 1963]], pp. 38-39, 42</ref><ref>[[#wijn1997|Wijn, 1997]], p. 46</ref>  For his landmark victory Tromp was rewarded by the States-General and knighted by Louis XIII of France, a close Dutch ally in the war against Spain. Shortly thereafter his second wife died. Tromp married again in 1640, to Cornelia van Berckhout.<ref name=harpetszoon'essay>[[#harpetszoon|British Civil Wars Project (BCWP)]], Essay</ref>
In 1643 the deputy of parliament in Holland made a loud protest in the General Assembly against the Prince of Orange for his orders to Tromp to allow two of the frigates bought by English royalists in Dunkirk, for his use and command.<ref>[[#hinds1925|Hinds (ed.), 1925]], v. xxvi, pp. 267-278</ref>

During his career, his main rival was Vice-Admiral [[Witte de With]], who also served the [[Admiralty of Rotterdam]] (de Maze) from 1637. De With temporarily replaced him as supreme commander for the [[Battle of Kentish Knock]]. Tromp's crew would not permit De With, who had a reputation of severity when disciplining a crew, to raise his flag on their ship, and insisted that he use the ''Prins Willem''{{efn|Dutch for "Prince William"}} as his flagship.<ref>[[#clowes1897|Clowes, 1897]], v. 2, p. 168</ref> Tromp's successor was Lieutenant-Admiral [[Jacob van Wassenaer Obdam]].<ref>[[#gardiner1|Gardiner, 1897]], v. 1, pp. 133-134</ref>

Tromp commanded the Dutch squadron that escorted [[Henrietta Maria of France|Queen Henrietta Maria]]  in 1643 when she returned from the [[Hague]] to [[Charles I of England|King Charles I]]. Opposed to her returning to England the Parliamentarian squadron under [[William Batten]] threatened to attack the Queen's convoy when it landed at [[Bridlington]] but was thwarted by Tromp to withdraw.<ref name=harpetszoon'essay/>