Albert had surprised his enemies during his…

Albert had surprised his enemies during his first campaign season by capturing Calais and nearby Ardres from the French and Hulst from the Dutch.

These successes were, however, offset by the third bankruptcy of the Spanish crown later that year.

As a consequence, 1597 has been marked by a series of military disasters.

Stadholder Maurice of Orange had captured the last Spanish strongholds that remained north of the great rivers, as well as the strategic town of Rheinberg in the Electorate of Cologne.

Still, the Spanish Army of Flanders had managed to surprise Amiens, thereby stalling the counter offensive that Henry IV had been about to launch.

With no more money to pay the troops, Albert is also facing a series of mutinies.