 Maurice was known in his time and by historians as the first general of his age.His reputation rests not as much on his ability to win and exploit field battles as it does on tis expertise as a siege commander, military organizer, and innovator.Of his two great adversaries, Alexander Farnese, Duke of Parma, and Ambrogio Spinola, he cautiously never allowed himself to be brought to battle with Parma and did not follow up chances to offer Spinola battle with forces in his favour on the Yssel in 1606.