The conciliation cross near the village of Rumpt commemorates Otto van Scherpenzeel.It marks the spot where he was killed, not far from his family home, Rumpt House, in 1527. Van Scherpenzeel was killed during a skirmish between troops fighting for the Duke of Guelders and soldiers fighting for the Bishop of Utrecht.His descendants erected this cross in his memory.
The conciliation cross near the village of Rumpt commemorates Otto van Scherpenzeel.It marks the spot where he was killed, not far from his family home, Rumpt House, in 1527. Van Scherpenzeel was killed during a skirmish between troops fighting for the Duke of Guelders and soldiers fighting for the Bishop of Utrecht.His descendants erected this cross in his memory.
Charles versus Charles
The skirmish near the village of Rumpt took place during the Guelderian Wars which lasted nearly 70 years. Charles of Egmond, Duke of Guelders, fought a bold campaign against Charles V, Habsburg ruler and lord of the Low Countries, who wanted to annex the Duchy of Guelders. Skirmishes and plundering were typical for the Guelderian Wars, and Rumpt just happened to be situated right in the middle of the area between the Duchy of Guelders and the County of Holland that was being fought over. By 1527, the wars had reached their fiercest. This was the year that Tiel was besieged by Habsburg forces followed by the subsequent retaliation and plundering of The Hague by Guelderian forces.
The skirmish at Rumpt
On 23rd October 1527, the Bishop of Utrecht´s troops plundered villages in the area around Rumpt, murdering civilians as they went. On the dike along the river Linge, they were intercepted by the Duke of Guelders´ troops Otto van Scherpenzeel was among them. He was killed during the encounter, just a stone’s throw away from his family´s home, Rumpt House.Otto van Scherpenzeel was a descendent of one of the Veluwe region´s oldest noble families and remarkably, the Bishop of Utrecht against whom he fought, was his uncle.Otto´s descendants erected the conciliation cross in his memory.
Inscribed on the cross
Int Iaer MVcXXVII Op Sunte Severynsdach
Op’t te Rempt Blef
Doot Ot van Scerpezeel
Lefft XXVIByt voer Dye Zyel Om Gods Wyl
Translation:
In the year 1527 on the Feast of Saint Severin (23 October) – in Rumpt he lies– Otto van Scherpenzeel died – aged 26 years– Pray for his soul in God´s name.
