Michiel de Ruyter

Michiel Adriaenszoon de Ruyter (24 March 1607 - 29 April 1676) is the most famous admiral in Dutch history. De Ruyter fought the English in the first three Anglo-Dutch Wars and scored several major victories.

1655-1663

In July 1655 De Ruyter took command of a squadron of eight of which the Tijdverdrijf was his flagship and set out for the Mediterranean with 55 merchantmen in convoy. Meeting an English fleet under Robert Blake along the way, he managed to avoid creating a new incident. His orders were to protect Dutch trade. After destroying many a privateer and negotiating a peace agreement with Salé, De Ruyter returned home May 1656.

Related Topics:
1655 - Robert Blake - Salé - 1656

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He did not stay home for very long as the same month the States-General, becoming ever more wary of Swedish king Charles X and his expansion plans, decided to make a statement and sent a fleet to the Baltic Sea, the southern coast of which the Swedes now also controlled as Charles had just invaded Poland. De Ruyter once again embarked on the Tijdverdrijf arriving in the Sound the 8th of June; there he waited for Admiral Jacob van Wassenaer Obdam to arrive. After Obdam had assumed command De Ruyter and the Dutch fleet sailed to relieve the besieged city of Gdansk, which happened without any bloodshed on July 27th. Peace was signed a month later. Before leaving the Baltic De Ruyter and other flagofficers were granted audience by Frederick III of Denmark. De Ruyter took a liking to the Danish king who would later become a personal friend.

Related Topics:
States-General - Charles X - Baltic Sea - Sound - Jacob van Wassenaer Obdam - Gdansk - Frederick III of Denmark

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In 1658 the States General decided to once again sent a fleet to the Baltic Sea to protect the important Baltic trade and to aid the Danes against continued Swedish aggression. In accordance with the States' balance of power politics a fleet under Lieutenant-Admiral Jacob van Wassenaer Obdam was sent. On the 8th of November a bloody melee took place in the Sound, which Battle of the Sound resulted in a Dutch victory, relieving Copenhagen. Still the Swedes were far from defeated and the States decided to continue their support. De Ruyter took command of a new expeditionary fleet and managed to liberate Nyborg in 1659. For this he was knighted by the Danish king Frederick III of Denmark.

Related Topics:
States General - Baltic Sea - Baltic - Balance of power - Jacob van Wassenaer Obdam - Sound - Battle of the Sound - Copenhagen - Nyborg - 1659 - Frederick III of Denmark

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