Siege of Gouda (1428)

After escaping her detention in 1425 from the Gravensteen in Gent, Jacqueline, Countess of Hainaut settled in Gouda, which was the capital of the Hook movement at that time. From her castle she continued her fight against the Cods to get Holland and Zeeland back. When she learned at some point that the enemy had brought together an army in Leiden to first attack Alphen aan den Rijn and then Gouda, she decided to attack first. Jacqueline gathered all her troops from Schoonhoven, Oudewater and Gouda and surprised and defeated the Cod army at the Battle of Alphen aan den Rijn (1425). The banners of the cities of Haarlem, Leiden and Amsterdam were taken back as a trophy to Gouda. However, in the following years, the Hooks suffered several defeats, including the Battle of Brouwershaven, and more and more territory was lost. == Siege ==

By May 1428, Philip the Good had recruited a huge Burgundian army of 20.000 men and raised the siege of Gouda. Gouda was surrounded on three sides, only the river side remained under control of the fleet of Willem van Brederode. Jacqueline sent messengers to her allies Jan van Montfoort and Bishop of Utrecht Rudolf van Diepholt, but no help arrived. She could also not count on her English husband Humphrey, Duke of Gloucester, who had their marriage annulled. After six weeks, and with no help on its way, Jacqueline had no choice but to surrender. She concluded the Treaty of Delft with Philip the Good of Burgundy on 3 July 1428. By this treaty, hostilities came to an end, Jacqueline retained her titles of Countess of Holland, Zeeland and Hainaut, but she recognized Philip as her heir and regent of her counties. == Sources ==