Capture of Bacharach

Capture of Bacharach
Part of the Palatinate phase of the Thirty Years' War
View of Bacharach by Matthäus Merian
Date 1 October 1620 Location Bacharach, Electorate of the Palatinate (present-day Germany) Result Spanish victory
Belligerents
Palatinate	Spain
Commanders and leaders
Frederick V	Gonzalo Fernández de Córdoba
Strength
Unknown	2,500–5,000[1]
Casualties and losses
Unknown	3 dead and 3 wounded[2]

The Capture of Bacharach took place on 1 October 1620 at Bacharach, Electorate of the Palatinate. The conflict was between the Spanish forces commanded by Don Gonzalo Fernández de Córdoba and the Protestant forces of Frederick V, Elector Palatine, during the Palatinate campaign in the context of the Thirty Years' War.^[3] After a quick start of the invasion of states of Frederick V, proclaimed King of Bohemia, the operations slowed in mid-September, after the Capture of Oppenheim.^[4] Don Ambrosio Spinola, the Spanish general in command, assessed at a council of war the choice between undertaking the siege of Heidelberg or, secondarily, the town of Bacharach.^[5] The Spanish officers decided to take Bacharach due to the small number of Frederick's scattered forces.^[6] On 1 October Córdoba captured Bacharach with a force of 2,500 soldiers, forcing the Anglo-German defenders to surrender.^[3]