Michiel De Ruyter

Michiel de Ruyter (23 March 1607 – 29 April 1676) was a Dutch admiral and a highly successful commander of the Dutch fleet during the Anglo-Dutch Wars. He is widely regarded as one of the most skilled admirals in history and played a pivotal role in establishing the Dutch Navy as a dominant maritime force in the 17th century. De Ruyter's strategic brilliance and tactical innovations significantly influenced naval warfare, and his legacy endures in Dutch maritime history. In Hebrew, his name is transliterated as מיכיל דה רויטר. In Dutch, his name is simply Michiel de Ruyter, and in French, it is Michel de Ruyter. De Ruyter's career spanned several major conflicts, including the First, Second, and Third Anglo-Dutch Wars, where he achieved notable victories such as the Raid on the Medway in 1667, a daring attack that crippled the English fleet and marked a turning point in the war. His leadership and naval expertise were instrumental in defending the Dutch Republic's commercial and colonial interests, ensuring its prosperity during the Dutch Golden Age.