Maarten van Rossum

Maarten van Rossum (Zaltbommel, c. 1490 – Antwerpen, June 7 1555) was a Dutch Guelderian military tactician and later field marshal at the service of Charles, Duke of Guelders, and Viscount of Geldermalsen.

His parents, Johan van Rossum, lord of Rossum and Johanna van Hemert probably married before 1478 and were part of the lower nobility around Bommelerwaard. During his life Maarten acquired the titles of lord of Poederoijen, Cannenburgh, Lathum, Baer and Bredevoort, field marshal of Guelders and Imperial stadholder of Luxemburg.

He is known to have been an experienced commander and is renowned for actions while serving Charles of Guelders in his wars against Charles V. He fought together with the legendary Pier Gerlofs Donia and Wijerd Jelckama and co-founded the renowned Arumer Zwarte Hoop. He participated in the siege of Medemblik in 1516 with Donia and Jelckama. He is also known for his participation in the sack of The Hague in 1528. After the Duchy of Guelders was defeated, he simply switched sides, and started working for Charles V, his former enemy.

In the spring of 1555 he became seriously ill, possibly infected with the Black Death or typhus in the city of Charlemont. He died in Antwerp on June 7 1555, his body was buried at his birthplace, the village of Rossum.

Notes and references

• M. Witteveen, P. Schipper en S. van Doornmalen, Een pronkstuk in Zaltbommel. Maarten van Rossem, zijn huis en het museum, Zaltbommel/Uitgeverij Aprilis 2005.
• Jan & Annie Romein, De lage landen bij de zee, Amsterdam, 1976 (6e dr.), 185.
• J.I.Israel, De Republiek 1477-1806, Franeker, 2001 (5e dr.), 66-67 en 71.
• Biografisch Woordenboek Gelderland, P. W. van Wissing, J. Kuys, C. A. M. Gietmann. blz. 108