Spinola's Spanish troops occupy Wachtendonk on October…

Spinola's Spanish troops occupy Wachtendonk on October 27, 1605.

The archduke Albert and the infanta Clara Eugenia, who had had set their hearts on taking Ostend, had been delighted at Spinola’s success, which has won him a high reputation among the soldiers of the time.

On the close of the campaign he had gone to Spain to arrange with the court, which is at this time at Valladolid, for the continuance of the war.

At Valladolid he had insisted on being appointed commander-in-chief in Flanders.

He was back at Brussels by April and entered on his first campaign.

The wars of the Low Countries consist at this time almost wholly of sieges, and Spinola makes himself famous by the number of places he takes in spite of the efforts of Maurice of Nassau to save them.