Editing Third Anglo-Dutch War (section)

== The war in 1672 ==
=== Overview ===
When the French invaded the Dutch Republic in May 1672, it initially seemed as if they had won an overwhelming victory. By the end of June, only [[the Dutch Water Line]] stood between them and the core province of [[Holland]]; by opening the sluices, the Dutch managed to stop the French advance.{{sfn|Van Nimwegen|2010|pp=442–443}} Dutch survival depended on control of the sea lanes, which ensured they could bring in vital supplies and keep trade routes open. Although outnumbered, on 7 June De Ruyter attacked the combined Anglo-French fleet at the [[Battle of Solebay]]; both sides lost one ship each, but it ended significant naval operations for the year.{{sfn|Rodger|2004|p=82}}

His unexpected success proved a mixed blessing for Louis, since it distracted from the main objectives of capturing the Spanish Netherlands. The possibility of France controlling the Republic, the largest commercial power in Europe, brought the Dutch support from [[Leopold I, Holy Roman Emperor|Emperor Leopold]] and [[Habsburg Spain|Spain]] among others. It also increased opposition in England, where many had opposed an alliance with Catholic France from the start. Peace negotiations made little progress; an over-confident Louis made demands unacceptable even to his English allies, while the Dutch used the opportunity to acquire allies and rebuild their army. By the end of 1672, they had regained much of the territory lost in May; Charles had run out of money and Parliament was unwilling to provide further financing.{{sfn|Boxer|1969|p=72}}

=== French success: May to June ===
[[File:Netherlands in 1672.svg|thumb|upright=1.2|left|Map of the Netherlands (Dutch Republic and Spanish) and surrounding areas during the French invasion and occupation of 1672]]

The speed with which the Republic was over-run in 1672 means it is still referred to as the ''[[Rampjaar]]'' or 'Year of disaster'. On 7 May, a French army of around 80,000 entered Liège; accompanied by Louis, they bypassed the Dutch stronghold of [[Maastricht]], crossed the [[Meuse]] and besieged the Dutch-held Rhine fortress towns of [[Rheinberg]], [[Orsoy]], Buderich and [[Wesel]]. The last of these surrendered on 9 June, while troops from Münster and Cologne simultaneously entered the provinces of [[Overijssel]] and [[Gelderland]].{{sfn|Van Nimwegen|2010|p=439}}

On 12 June, the French crossed the [[Lower Rhine]] into the [[Betuwe]] near [[Schenkenschanz|Schenkenschans]] and, recrossing the Lower Rhine to outflank the IJssel Line, occupied [[Arnhem]] on 16 June and [[Zutphen]] on 25 June.{{sfn|Troost|2001|p=83}} Now in danger of being cut off from the core province of [[Holland]], William and his troops retreated through [[Utrecht]] behind the [[The Dutch Water Line|Holland Water Line]]; the inundations were released on 22 June, stopping the French advance in this area.{{sfn|Van Nimwegen|2010|pp=441–442}} On 5 July, [[States of Overijssel|Overijssel]] surrendered to [[Bernhard von Galen]], Prince-Bishop of Münster, who occupied [[Drenthe]]; he reached [[Groningen (city)|Groningen]], but flooding prevented a proper siege and his troops were soon starving.{{sfn|Prud'homme van Reine|2015|p=245}}

The States General had responded to the March attack on the Smyrna convoy by expanding the active fleet from forty-eight to sixty vessels and ordering the construction of thirty-six new vessels.{{sfn|Doedens|Mulder|2016|p=157}} This still left them outnumbered by the combined Anglo-French fleet, and De Ruyter withdrew into [[shoal]] waters near the Dutch coast, awaiting an opportunity.{{sfn|Jenkins|1973|p=50}} Disasters on land meant De Witt needed a victory; he ordered De Ruyter to attack, accompanied by [[Cornelis de Witt]] to ensure these instructions were carried out.{{sfn|Prud'homme van Reine|2015|p=236}}

When the Allied fleet withdrew to Solebay near [[Southwold]], [[Suffolk]], to resupply, on 7 June De Ruyter surprised it at the [[Battle of Solebay]]. The Duke of York led his squadrons against the main Dutch fleet, but his French colleague [[Jean II d'Estrées|d'Estrées]] either misunderstood his intentions or deliberately ignored them, sailing in the opposite direction. The thirty French ships fought a separate encounter at long-range with fifteen ships from the [[Admiralty of Zeeland]], under [[Adriaen Banckert]]. D'Estrées was later condemned by some of his own officers for failing to engage them more closely.{{sfn|Jenkins|1973|pp=50–51}}

[[File:The Burning of the Royal James at the Battle of Solebay, 28 May 1672 RMG BHC0302.tiff|thumb|upright=1.0|Solebay, 7 June; the destruction of the ''[[HMS Royal James (1671)|Royal James]]'', the English flagship]]

The [[Edward Montagu, 1st Earl of Sandwich|Earl of Sandwich]] was killed when the ''[[HMS Royal James (1671)|Royal James]]'' was sunk by fireships, with other ships suffering heavy damage. Although ship losses were roughly equal, Solebay ensured the Dutch retained control of their coastal waters, secured their trade routes and ended hopes of an Anglo-French landing in [[Zeeland]]. Anger at the alleged lack of support from D'Estrées increased opposition to the war, and Parliament was reluctant to approve funds for essential repairs. For the rest of the year, this restricted English naval operations to a failed attack on the [[Dutch East India Company]] Return Fleet.{{sfn|Rodger|2004|p=82}}

However, this did not offset the damage caused by Dutch defeats on land, and it was impossible to hide the gravity of the crisis. A stream of venomous Orangist pamphlets accused the De Witt brothers in particular and the Regent regime in general of betraying the country to the French.{{sfn|Boxer|1969|p=81}} There was widespread rioting, with Orangists seizing control of city councils and demanding William take over government.{{sfn|Panhuysen|2009|p=163}} On 22 June, Johan de Witt was badly wounded in an assassination attempt; one of the attackers, Jacob van der Graaf, was quickly arrested, tried and executed, increasing popular anger with the De Witts.{{sfn|Boxer|1969|p=82}}

=== Negotiations ===
[[File:Moord op de gebroeders De Witt, door Pieter Frits (1627-1708).jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.0|The murder of the De Witt brothers secured William's domestic position.]]

The Dutch were helped by the incompatibility of French and English objectives, while initial success meant Louis over-estimated the strength of his position. French expansion in the Spanish Netherlands was primarily intended to grow their economy at the expense of the Dutch, but undermined English trade and security as well. If Louis also gained control of Holland, the financial and commercial centre of Europe, the potential increase in French influence threatened every other European state.{{sfn|'t Hart|2014|pp=30–33}}

On 14 June, the States of Holland opened negotiations, offering Louis the right to occupy key fortresses in the south, plus an indemnity of ten million guilders.{{sfn|Troost|2001|p=86}} He responded with additional demands including religious freedom for Catholics, or French sovereignty over [[Utrecht (province)|Utrecht]] and [[Guelders]]. Both sides were using talks as a delaying tactic, assuming their position would improve; Louis knew the envoys were not authorised to negotiate on religion or the territorial integrity of the provinces and would have to request further instructions. The English were to be ceded [[Delfzijl]], in [[Groningen (province)|Groningen]], already besieged by Münster.{{sfn|Troost|2005|p=80}}

Arguing only Charles could save them from the French, Orangist pressure led to his nephew William's appointment as [[stadtholder]] of Holland on 4 July. Hoping for a quick win, Charles sent Arlington and [[George Villiers, 2nd Duke of Buckingham|Buckingham]] to Brill, accompanied by Orangist exiles who had fled the Republic after their failed coup in 1666. They arrived at William's headquarters in [[Nieuwerbrug]] on 5 July, cheered by crowds who believed they brought promises of English support. The mood quickly changed when their terms were made public.{{sfn|Troost|2005|p=89}} France and Münster were to retain their conquests and William would be appointed Sovereign Prince of Holland, in return for which he would pay England ten million guilders, £10,000 per annum for North Sea herring rights, and allow English garrisons to occupy Brill, [[Sluys]] and [[Vlissingen]].{{sfn|Troost|2005|p=81}}{{Efn|During the [[Eighty Years War]] in 1585, the Dutch [[Treaty of Nonsuch|ceded]] control of Brill and Flushing (Vlissingen) to [[Elizabeth I]]; known as the [[Cautionary Towns]], they were sold back to the Dutch in 1616 by [[James VI and I|James I]] for £213,000{{Sfn|Jackson|2021|p=153}}}}

[[File:Gaspar Fagel (cropped).jpg|thumb|upright=0.8|Orangist [[Gaspar Fagel]], appointed Grand Pensionary in August 1672]]

William rejected the offer, since it gave the Dutch nothing they did not already hold. Arlington and Buckingham then met with Louis and agreed the [[Heeswijk Castle|Heeswijk Accord]] on 16 July. This set out a list of shared demands and undertook not to conclude a separate peace, but neither side placed any reliance on it.{{sfn|Grose|1929|pp=181–182}} Leopold's envoy in [[the Hague]], [[François-Paul de Lisola]], gave the States-General assurances of Imperial support and arranged for Spanish troops to hold the Dutch fortress cities of [['s-Hertogenbosch]] and [[Breda]], releasing their garrisons for the field army.{{sfn|Goldie|Levillain|2018|pp=57–58}}

A second letter from Charles on 18 July urged William to accept his terms, claiming the De Witts were the only obstacle to peace. He responded by offering fishing rights, £400,000, Sluys and [[Surinam (Dutch colony)|Surinam]], in return for recognition as Prince of Holland and England agreeing a separate peace.{{sfn|Troost|2005|p=91}} Based on the Heeswijk Accord, Louis demanded the Dutch cede their naval base at [[Hellevoetsluis]] to England, a demand he knew was unacceptable. After the terms were rejected on 20 July, Arlington and Buckingham returned to London.{{sfn|Panhuysen|2005|p=435}}

Johan de Witt had resigned as Grand Pensionary in June, while Cornelis was arrested for allegedly plotting to murder William. On 15 August, Charles' letter blaming the De Witts was published in Holland; the effect was to inflame tensions and the two brothers were lynched by an Orangist civil militia on 20th.{{sfn|Troost|2001|pp=94–95}} The Orangist [[Gaspar Fagel]] became Grand Pensionary, and on 27 August the States of Holland banned their political opponents from a local office, securing William's political position.{{sfn|Edwards|1998|p=59}}

=== Dutch recovery: July to December ===
[[File:Assault on Coevorden in 1672 - De bestorming van Coevorden, 30 december 1672 (Pieter Wouwerman).jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.0|The recapture of [[Coevorden]] on 30 December 1672 was a significant boost to Dutch morale.]]

On 7 July, the inundations were fully set; their effectiveness would be reduced when the waters froze in winter but for now, Holland was secure from French advance.{{sfn|Panhuysen|2009|p=196}} This gave the States time to enact the military reforms approved on 16 July, while they were boosted by the return of 20,000 prisoners ransomed from the French.{{sfn|Van Nimwegen|2010|pp=442–444}} In addition to unofficial Spanish support, on 25 July Leopold promised to invade the Rhineland and Alsace with 16,000 troops, along with the 20,000 promised by Frederick William in May.{{sfn|Young|2004|p=132}}

This forced Louis to divert 40,000 men to meet this threat, with nearly 50,000 tied up in garrisons around the Republic.{{sfn|Van Nimwegen|2010|p=446}} English hopes of a quick victory vanished after Solebay, while the removal of the De Witts secured William's position and ended his dependence on Charles. The Münster army disintegrated due to lack of supplies and on 27 August, von Galen abandoned the siege of Groningen; the besiegers lost over 11,000 men, including 6,000 deserters, many of whom joined the Dutch.{{sfn|Van Nimwegen|2010|p=446}}

William led attacks on [[Woerden]] and Charleroi, which were over-ambitious and unsuccessful but restored Dutch morale, while Coevorden was recaptured on 31 December. Although their position remained precarious, by the end of 1672 the Dutch had regained much of the territory lost in May and Louis found himself involved in a wider European war of attrition. Despite his French subsidies, Charles had run out of money and faced considerable domestic opposition to continuing the war.{{sfn|Boxer|1969|p=72}} This increased when the [[Dutch Cape Colony]] dispatched an expeditionary force to the English-held island of [[Saint Helena]], and [[Dutch invasion of Saint Helena|took possession]] on behalf of the [[Dutch East India Company]].{{sfn|Theal|1888|p=226}}