This armorial tapestry was the last in a series of tapestries commissioned by the States-General of Zeeland at the end of the 16th century that tell the story of the main sea battles that were fought in Zeeland waters during the Eighty Years' War (the Dutch war of independence against Spain,1568-1648). Zeeland played a crucial role in the initial phase of this war, which began in 1572 with the Battle of Middelburg and ended in 1576 with the withdrawal of Spanish troops from Zierikzee. The series of tapestries served an important political purpose. In commerce, at sea and in national government, Zeeland was in constant competition with the likewise powerful province of Holland. This was a continuation of the struggle in visual form. When prominent guests visited Middelburg Abbey, the tapestries would be unrolled and hung up to highlight the vital role Zeeland played in the war with Spain: it was not the Hollanders that beat the Spanish, but the Zeelanders. (http://www.zeeuwsmuseum.nl)