In spring and summer 1572, many cities in the Low Countries came under control of William of Orange, some actively supporting the rebels, other taking a more cautious attitude.

When Bernard de Merode heard that a much stronger Spanish force was approaching Mechelen, he and his men left the city.

[2][3] In his Histories of the United Netherlands (1728), Protestant theologian and historian Jean Leclerc wrote the following account:[4] In Mechelen, there were four companies of footsoldiers, and two hundred cavalrymen, who could not prevent the voorstad from being overwhelmed.

The natural son of Don Ferdinand de Toledo was wounded during this event, which embittered the Duke so much that he made the city pay for it with great cruelty.

They beat to death everything they ran into, even [those who were] unarmed; they violated the women and the young daughters, in the presence of their husbands and parents, despite them being Catholics, yes, even the clerical virgins.