Jan van der Croon
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Jan van der Croon (c. 1600 – 6 November 1665), also called Jan della Croon, Johann de la Corona, or von der Cron, was a Dutch professional soldier and military commander in Spanish and Imperial service who reached the rank of lieutenant field marshal. Rising from a common soldier to an important officer, regiment holder, and city commander during the Thirty Years' War, he continued his career after the Peace of Westphalia in the military administration of Bohemia. For many years until his death, he served as city commander of Prague and vice military commander of Bohemia, strengthening fortifications and recruiting soldiers for the Second Northern War and the Austro-Turkish War.
Jan van der Croon | |
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Military commander of Plzeň | |
In office 1645–1650 | |
Military commander of Prague, vice military commander of Bohemia | |
In office 1652–1665 | |
Personal details | |
Born | c. 1600 Weert |
Died | (1665-11-06)6 November 1665 Prague |
Resting place | St. Thomas' Church, Prague |
Military service | |
Allegiance | Spain Holy Roman Empire |
Service years | 1624–1665 |
Rank | Lieutenant field marshal |
Battles | Eighty Years' War Siege of Breda, 1624; Siege of Leuven; 1635; Siege of Schenkenschans, 1635 War of the Mantuan Succession Sack of Mantua, 1630 Thirty Years' War Rain, 1632; Alte Veste, 1632; Lützen, 1632; Siege of Regensburg, 1634; Nördlingen, 1634; Recapture of Lubin, 1640; Siege of Hirschberg, 1640; Siege of Görlitz, 1641; Battle of Schweidnitz, 1642; Raid on Litovel, 1642; Breitenfeld, 1642; Blockade of Głogów, 1644; Capture of Kiel, 1644; Blockade of Eger, 1647 |
Croon also became an ennobled landowner and patron to the Catholic church in Bohemia. He was one of the few soldiers of his time to rise to the rank of general despite non-noble descent, a characteristic he shares with cavalry general Johann von Werth with whom he was often confused with.