Plundering van Mechelen, 1572 1572 - 1574

"Plundering van Mechelen, 1572" is an etching by Frans Hogenberg, created between 1572 and 1574, depicting the sack of Mechelen by Spanish troops under the command of the Duke of Alba during the Eighty Years' War. Hogenberg’s print depicts the chaotic scene of soldiers plundering and looting the city, while citizens are shown fleeing in terror. The print includes a detailed map of Mechelen and features an inscription in German, which translates to "All the fortifications were taken, the Duke of Alba conquered the city of Mechelen. It was a sad time." The print provides a vivid and historically important depiction of the devastation inflicted upon the city of Mechelen during the Spanish Fury.