Editing Third Anglo-Dutch War (section)

=== 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}}