Siege of Arras (1640)
"La defaicte des Espagnols à l'attaque du siége d'Arras. L'Arrivée du Convoy et la Reddition de la ville d'Arras a l'obeissance du Roy"
| date | July 9, 1640 to August 9, 1640 |
|---|---|
| place | Arras , France |
| output | French victory |
| Parties to the conflict | |
|---|---|
|
France , Republic of the Seven United Provinces (Netherlands) |
|
| Commander | |
|
Gaspard III. de Coligny |
|
The siege of Arras in 1640 was a conflict within the Franco-Spanish War from 1635 to 1659. It led to the occupation of the city of Arras by French troops on August 9, 1640. In literature, the siege forms the background for the fourth act of Edmond Rostand's drama Cyrano de Bergerac .
background
France and the Netherlands had concluded an alliance to conquer the Spanish Netherlands in 1635, which was not very successful. In 1640 they took action against the city of Arras, which was held by the Spanish.
The Spanish troops were under the command of Ferdinand of Spain , Governor of the Spanish Netherlands, the French under that of the Marshals of France Gaspard III. de Coligny , called Marshal of Châtillon, and Honoré d'Albert , called Maréchal de Chaulnes, the Dutch finally under the command of Charles de La Porte, duc de la Meilleraye , also Marshal of France, and Friedrich Heinrich von Oranien , the governor of the United Netherlands.
On July 15, 1638, Châtillon had to break off the siege of Saint-Omer and leave the city to the Spaniards, on June 29, 1639 he had taken Hesdin . The goal now was to pinch the Spaniards. Friedrich Heinrich attacked Bruges , La Meilleraye fought on the Maas , the French continued to operate in the Artois . The plan failed, however, when the Fort de Charlemont above Givet and the fortress Mariembourg La Porte resisted. La Porte was called back to Artois, crossed the Hainaut and the Cambrésis and took up position on June 13, 1640 in front of Arras. Châtillon and Chaulnes later joined them. 23,000 infantrymen ( Fantassins ) and 9,000 horsemen camped in front of the city. In Amiens, Owen Roe O'Neill , an Irishman in the Spanish service, organized the defense with 2,000 men.
The Spanish answer
Ferdinand of Spain rushed to Lille , where General Lamboy and Duke Charles IV of Lorraine joined him. A Spanish army of 20,000 men came together and set up camp on July 9, 1640 in Mont-Saint-Éloi a few kilometers from Arras. Ferdinand decided not to attack the besiegers but to cut off their access to food. From Avesnes-le-Comte between Arras, Hedsin and Doullens he intercepted the supply convoys; at the same time he strengthened his army until he commanded 20,000 soldiers and 12,000 horsemen.
The supply convoy
Richelieu , who was with the King in Amiens , also hastily organized a supply transport consisting of ammunition and food and an escort of 18,000 men under the orders of the Governor of Lorraine, François de L'Hôpital . The convoy was received on the morning of August 2, halfway between Doullens and Arras, by La Meilleraye and Chaulnes, which were themselves accompanied by 6,000 men. Ferdinand of Spain took advantage of the absence of the contingent to attack Châtillon with the rest of the army.
The fall of Arras
Châtillon only had 15,000 hungry and overtired men. The Duke of Lorraine led the main attack on the fortifications held by Colonel Josias Rantzau . This was conquered and recaptured several times until Jean de Gassion at the head of 1,000 riders heralded the return of La Meilleraye and Chaulnes and thus turned the tide. A final attack by Rantzau's troops finally repelled the Spanish attack. The arrival of La Meillerayes and Chaulnes with the cavalry and then the main body of the army under L'Hôpital led to the Spanish retreat. On the morning of August 3, the French generals called on the city to surrender. Arras resisted until August 7th, when a breach was made in the city wall and the French invaded the city. The surrender was signed on August 9th before Ferdinand of Spain.
Consequences
The city was now under French rule, but retained its privileges and status as the seat of the Parlement des Artois. She remained Catholic and religious freedom was not introduced. The capture of Arras, which had long been in Spanish hands, increased the confidence of the French. The Prince of Carignan , who had achieved the lifting of the siege of Saint-Omer in Spanish service, entered French service on September 18, 1640. From spring to September 1641, other Spanish fortresses such as Aire-sur-la-Lys , Lens , Bapaume and La Bassée were conquered. At the end of 1641 France regained control of the Artois.
François de l'Hôpital and Jean de Bassion were appointed Marshals of France in 1643 and Josias Rantzau in 1645. With the Peace of the Pyrenees in 1659, which ended the war between France and Spain that had lasted since 1635 , Arras finally came to France.
literature
- Henri Martin, Histoire de France, depuis les temps les plus reculés jusqu'en 1789 , Part 6, Book LXXI, Richelieu, prize d'Arras.
- Gatien de Courtilz de Sandras , Mémoires de Monsieur d'Artagnan, Cologne 1700, "Le siège d'Arras"