Don Francisco de Melo (1597 – 1651), marquis of Tor de Laguna, count of Assumar, was from 1641 to 1644 (interim) governor of the Southern Netherlands. Events 17 January - A court case in Guildford recorded evidence that a certain plot of land was used for playing “kreckett” (i. ... // Events January 1 - Charles II crowned King of Scotland in Scone. ... Events The Long Parliament passes a series of legislation designed to contain Charles Is absolutist tendencies. ... // Events February to August - Explorer Abel Tasmans second expedition for the Dutch East India Company maps the north coast of Australia. ... A governor is a governing official, usually the executive (at least nominally, to different degrees also politically and administratively) of a non-sovereign level of government, ranking under the head of state; furthermore the title applies to officials with a similar mandate as representatives of a chartered company which has... The Southern Netherlands were a part of the Low Countries controlled by Spain (Spanish Netherlands, 1579-1713), Austria (Austrian Netherlands, 1713-1794) and France (1794-1815). ...

When Francisco de Melo came to the Southern Netherlands, he already had an impressive political carreer. From 1632 to 1636 he had been Spanish embassador to Genoa. In 1638 he was appointed viceroy of Sicily, and two years later he was ambassador in Vienna. The Southern Netherlands were a part of the Low Countries controlled by Spain (Spanish Netherlands, 1579-1713), Austria (Austrian Netherlands, 1713-1794) and France (1794-1815). ... See also: 1632 (novel) Events February 22 - Galileos Dialogue Concerning the Two Chief World Systems is published July 23 - 300 colonists for New France depart Dieppe November 8 - Wladyslaw IV Waza elected king of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth after Zygmunt III Waza death November 16 - Battle of Lützen... Events February 24 - King Christian of Denmark gives an order that all beggars that are able to work must be sent to Brinholmen Island to build ships or as galley rowers March 26 - Utrecht University founded in The Netherlands. ... The Republic of Genoa, in full the Most Serene Republic of Genoa (known as the Ligurian Republic from 1798 to 1805) was an independent state in Liguria on the northwestern Italian coast from ca. ... Events March 29 - Swedish colonists establish first settlement in Delaware, called New Sweden. ... A viceroy is a royal official who governs a country or province in the name of and as representative of the monarch. ... Sicilian redirects here. ... Vienna (German: Wien ; Bosnian, Croatian, and Serbian: Beč, Czech: Vídeň, Hungarian: Bécs, Greek: Βιέννη, Romanian: Viena, Romani: Bech or Vidnya, Russian: Вена, Slovak: Viedeň, Slovenian: Dunaj, Dutch: Wenen) is the capital of Austria, and also one of the nine States of Austria. ...

Above all, Francisco de Melo will be remembered for the historical defeat at the battle of Rocroi in 1643. In later years this defeat has been regarded as the beginning of the decline of the Spanish empire. Don Francisco's victory at the Battle of Honnecourt one year earlier, has been completly forgoten. Combatants France Spain Commanders Prince de Condé Francisco de Melo Count of Fuentes † Strength 16,000 infantry 6,000 cavalry 14 guns 15,000 infantry 5,000 cavalry 18 guns Casualties 2,000 dead 2,000 wounded 3,500 dead or wounded 3,826 captured The Battle of Rocroi, fought... // Events January 21 - Abel Tasman discovers Tonga February 6 - Abel Tasman discovers the Fiji islands. ... Combatants France Spain Commanders Jean François de La Guiche Francisco de Melo Strength 7,000 infantry 3,000 cavalry 10 guns 13,000 infantry 6,000 cavalry 20 guns Casualties 3,200 dead 500 wounded 3,400 captured 500 dead or wounded The Battle of Honnecourt was a battle...