Sydnam Poyntz

Sydnam (Sydenham) Poyntz (bap. 1607), Col.-Gen., an English soldier, served in the Thirty Years' War under Ernst von Mansfeld before commanding Parliamentary forces in the English Civil War.

Sydenham was the fourth son of John Poyntz of Reigate, Surrey, and his wife Ann. He ran away from an apprenticeship to a London tradesman and became a mercenary, fighting for the Imperial Spanish army under Mansfeld during the Thirty Years' War and rising to the rank of Major General.

In 1645, Poyntz returned to England and entered service with Parliamentary forces in the English Civil War. Poyntz's forces defeated those of Charles I of England at Rowton Heath.

By 1647, Poyntz was drawn onto Parliament's side of the dispute between it and Oliver Cromwell's New Model Army. New Model Army commander Fairfax mistrusted Poyntz and placed spies in Poyntz's camp to foment distrust. Poyntz fled the country when London fell to Army troops. He wrote The Relation of Sydnam Poyntz 1624-1636, an account of his German experiences.

References

• D. N. Farr, ‘Poyntz , Sydenham (bap. 1607)’, Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press, Sept 2004; online edn, Oct 2006

External links

• Six Portraits of Sir Sydenham Poyntz at the National Portrait Gallery, London
• Sydenham Poyntz