Siege of Bonn (1689)
| date | July to October 1689 |
|---|---|
| place | Bonn |
| output | Allied victory. Enforcement of Joseph Clemens of Bavaria as elector |
| Parties to the conflict | |
|---|---|
|
|
|
| Commander | |
|
Friedrich III. |
|
| Troop strength | |
| more than 3,000 men | about 30,000 men |
| losses | |
|
unknown |
4000 men |
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Palatinate War of Succession (1688–1697)
Philippsburg - Koblenz - Walcourt - Bantry Bay - Mainz - Bonn - Fleurus - Beachy Head - Boyne - Staffarda - Québec - Mons - Cuneo - Leuze - Aughrim - Barfleur / La Hougue - Namur 1 - Steenkerke - Lagos - Neerektiven - Marsaglia - Charleroi - Torroella - Camaret - Texel - Sant Esteve d'en Bas - Gerona - Dixmuyen - Namur 2 - Brussels - Ath - Cartagena - Barcelona
The siege of Bonn of 1689 took place during the nine-year war ( Nine Years' War instead). The Cologne diocese dispute between Wilhelm Egon von Fürstenberg and Joseph Clemens von Bayern over control of Kurköln triggered the war. Kurköln became a direct theater of war. While Wilhelm Egon von Fürstenberg was supported by Ludwig XIV , a broad alliance fought for Joseph Clemens. The commander-in-chief of the Allied troops operating on the Lower Rhine was the Brandenburg Elector Friedrich III. The Allies soon succeeded in gaining the upper hand in Kurköln.
Finally, fortified Bonn remained as a French garrison. The battle for Bonn began in July with the conquest of the Beueler Schanze on the right bank of the Rhine. From July 24th, the Allies shelled the city of Bonn across the Rhine. The city was almost completely destroyed by the outbreak of fires in particular. Since the occupation did not surrender, the city of Bonn was enclosed on the left bank of the Rhine and after a long delay a real siege began. The French troops capitulated on October 12th.
backgrounds
Archbishop Maximilian Heinrich of Bavaria was under the influence of Franz Egon and Wilhelm Egon von Fürstenberg. Both were supporters of Louis XIV. Maximilian Heinrich achieved in early 1688 that the Cologne cathedral chapter appointed Wilhelm Egon von Fürstenberg as coadjutor and thus his designated successor, using French bribes . Innocent XI. refused to give his consent because he did not want to encourage a further increase in the power of Louis XIV. After the elector's death, a new election was necessary, in which neither von Fürstenberg nor Joseph Clemens von Bayern clearly prevailed under canon law. Nonetheless, von Fürstenberg, who received the larger number of votes, considered himself elected. He had the royal seat of Bonn and other important places occupied by soldiers. Emperor Leopold I and the other electors turned to the Pope, who rejected the position of Fürstenbergs and declared Joseph Clemens archbishop. This decision was also politically motivated and was problematic in terms of canon law.
The emperor confirmed the papal decision. Louis XIV did not accept this and sent troops to Kurköln. He justified himself by defending the freedom of the rights of the German imperial princes as a guarantor of the peace between Westphalia and Nijmegen against the emperor, who did not recognize the election of the cathedral chapter. This intervention in internal affairs of the Holy Roman Empire was one of the triggers for the Palatinate War of Succession.
Military history
Portrait (oil on canvas) by Friedrich Wilhelm Weidemann , around 1701
A large part of the Rhineland was soon occupied by the French or was in the hands of the troops recruited by Fürstenberg. The imperial city of Cologne , Koblenz and the Ehrenbreitstein fortress could not be captured. After the declaration of the Imperial War and the alliance of the Holy Roman Empire with the Netherlands , England and Spain to repel the troops of Louis XIV, three large armies were formed in Germany. The first under the Elector of Bavaria Maximilian Emanuel II served to protect the Franks and Swabians , the second was to regain the fortress of Mainz under Duke Charles V of Lorraine . The third under the Brandenburg Elector Friedrich III. gathered in the Duchy of Cleves . In addition to Brandenburg and Prussian units of around 26,000 men, there were also units from Lüneburg, Münster and Dutch. The Brandenburg units also included Huguenots who had been expelled from France. In the absence of the Elector of Brandenburg, General Hans Adam von Schöning was the commander of the army in the Kleve area.
The aim was to recapture the French-occupied archbishopric of Cologne. The city of Bonn, which was originally surrounded by a medieval city wall, had been reinforced with modern fortifications and bastions since 1622 after the experience of the Truchsessian War . A large jump on the Beuel side was supposed to secure the city to the east. During the first major siege of Bonn during the Dutch War in 1673, the bulwarks had already been massively shot at. Therefore, in the spring of 1688, the fortress was rebuilt and reinforced, with work continuing until the immediate siege.
On September 10, 1688, 14 battalions of French infantry, 6 cavalry regiments and 3 dragoon regiments moved into Bonn to secure the city. A total of 7,000 men moved into quarters and strengthened the garrison. Everything that was suitable for construction was confiscated, and the cloisters of Bonn's churches were converted into horse stables.
In October 1688, the old ski jump, which was probably built in 1672/73 on the Beuel side, began to be removed and replaced by a spacious bridgehead. Conditionally ready for defense since December 1688, the final completion of the fort took until May 1689.
In the city of Bonn itself, the three north bastions have also been completely rebuilt in Vauban's style since October . Because of the lack of wood supplies, town houses were also safely demolished by residents who had fled the city in order to use the beams. In this way, a total of 10 large bastions had been expanded and rebuilt in Bonn by April 1689, but the work was by no means finished until the first advance of the enemy troops. The trenches in the north lacked depth and the walls lacked height, and work was still being carried out on the filling of the walls.
On April 21, 1689, the French troops stationed in Bonn began to create a huge glacis by destroying all castles and houses in the Bonn area. Demolition squads dragged the church on the Kreuzberg , as well as the castles of Gudenau and Adendorf . Andernach and Ahrweiler were destroyed. The burning of Siegburg , Mondorf and Geistingen followed in May . Oberkassel , Niederdollendorf and Königswinter were torn down, Rhöndorf and Honnef razed. The allied troops left a trail of devastation through the Bonn area, plundered, destroyed and burned the villages and requisitioned all the cattle from the farmers who were threatened with hunger.
Storming the Beueler Schanze
The troops led by Brandenburg crossed the Rhine near Wesel in March 1689 . Another part remained on the right bank of the Rhine and should include Kaiserswerth . The main army was able to push back the French through battles near Uerdingen , Kloster Meer and Neuss . Kerpen , Hülchrath and Düren could be freed. On April 14, 1689, Colonel von Heyden from Brandenburg set out with 1,000 infantry and 200 cuirassiers from the Cologne garrison to take the Beueler Schanze, which was not yet fully completed, in a coup. It was hoped that the fort would be rendered unusable by blowing up. The attack took place on the night of April 15-16, but the small French team was able to hold out successfully until two large ships with grenadiers from the Thianges regiment arrived in Beuel and intervened in the battle. When another detachment from Bonn crossed over with the flying bridge at dawn , the battle could be decided in favor of the French. Many Brandenburgers, including Colonel von Heyden, lost their lives in this battle.
Nevertheless, the majority of the French troops were driven back on the right bank of the Rhine. The French-occupied Rheinberg fortress capitulated on May 16, and Kaiserswerth , which was also occupied, on June 27 after prolonged resistance.
On June 29th General Hans Albrecht von Barfus set out from Kaiserswerth with three Brandenburg, Münster and Dutch regiments with the aim of finally taking the Beueler Schanze and bombarding Bonn from there. At Mondorf they exceeded the Sieg , built three gun batteries in front of the Beueler Schanze and began bombardment on July 9th. On the night of July 10th they snatched an outpost, the "Italian House", from the French, and on the 11th, Munster's artillery colonel Lambert Corfey hit the ammunition depot with a mortar shot . The confusion of the French caused by the detonation is used by the Allies to take the fort in a storm attack.
Destruction of Bonn
There was disagreement about the further course of action of the main troops, so these remained with Zons. After storming the entrenchments it was decided to bombard Bonn from the right bank of the Rhine. To protect the artillery brought in, walls were raised at the Beueler Schanze. In July the main Allied army marched out of Zons and stopped near Cologne. With the help of the cavalry in particular, Bonn was cut off.
The French, under their commander Alexis Bidal Marquis d'Asfeld , prepared for the siege. The garrison troops of around 4,000 men were among the best in the French army. There were also numerous scattered units. However, most of the newcomers were cavalrymen and the supply of the many horses made difficulties with the already limited supplies. The defenders continued to strengthen the defenses. Ammunition and food supplies were kept in reasonably safe places as best they could.
To enclose the city more closely, the main camp was relocated to the Rodenkirchen area. In the meantime 140 heavy artillery pieces and 30 mortars were brought into position at the Beueler Schanze. On the evening of July 24th, Elector Friedrich ordered the bombardment to begin. The effect was devastating. Fires broke out in various parts of the city and spread rapidly. Numerous residential buildings, the electoral palace , monasteries and churches were destroyed within the first 24 hours. Only the cathedral church was largely spared. The first hit destroyed a hospital and killed numerous wounded.
The following night, the guns fired mainly on burning areas to prevent extinguishing. The wall on the Rhine side was soon almost completely destroyed. The French troops were forced to withdraw from the city proper to the outer works before the bombing. Numerous citizens fled the city. The bombardment of the city was stopped on the order of the elector and the outer works were bombarded instead. The Brandenburg riders could not prevent French forage troops from confiscating supplies in the surrounding towns. Although the commander in the city made no move to surrender, the fire was stopped on July 29 on the orders of the Brandenburg elector. The tower of the cathedral church was hit by another fire on August 6th and caught fire. The previous ringing was lost.
siege
The elector's proposal to storm the city through the destroyed Rhine wall with the help of ships and bridges to be built quickly across the Rhine was rejected by the generals. The besiegers faced the alternative of starting a full siege or of enclosing the city and starving the occupation out. The elector asked the oldest generals for an expert opinion. These statements turned out to be contradictory. He himself undertook an investigation and was in danger.
Thereupon he decided to do a real siege. Within the city, the French troops lost discipline, desertions and looting ensued . The cathedral church also caught fire due to carelessness. Various diseases spread among the occupation. In front of the city there was violent, ultimately undecided fighting between Brandenburg advance troops and the besieged.
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On August 16, when the army was moved to positions around Bonn, the actual siege of the city began. The camp was strongly fortified. In total it was planned to pull together 36,000 men near Bonn. In addition, 6,000 peasants were requested to do entrenchment work. The siege was to be directed by von Schöning. The work and the opening of the trenches were delayed due to bad weather, among other things. The siege was also delayed to send troops against the advance of the French on the Moselle .
Since August 29, the fortifications have been shelled instead. The containment cut off the crew from supplies from outside. A failure attempt failed. It was still more of a blockade than a siege, because the trenches could not yet be opened.
The situation was made even more difficult when there were violent disagreements between von Schöning and von Barfuß. After both had drawn their swords and were about to duel, they were arrested on the order of the elector. Alexander von Spaen took over the command . After the Allied victory at Mainz , reinforcements were to be expected, and negotiations with the besieged to surrender the city were unsuccessful. In the city itself, the need was great and the number of illnesses increased.
Since September 16, work began to dig the trenches towards the city. On the night of September 20, the trenches of the Brandenburg and Münster troops were connected. The Duke of Lorraine and other commanders reinforced the besiegers. On the night of September 27th, the Duke of Lorraine's imperial troops began digging trenches in their area. Defectors reported that there were only 2,500 operational soldiers in the city.
The opposing fortifications were often heavily shelled and the assault was prepared in various places. The attack began on October 10th. A number of fortifications could be taken. Since the situation was hopeless, the French capitulated on October 12th. The occupiers were granted an honorable withdrawal with arms and flags. Her commander Alexis Bidal Marquis d'Asfeld died a short time later as a result of his wounds.
consequences
As a result of the French defeat in Bonn, the Allies dominated the military situation on the Lower Rhine, and Joseph Clemens was able to assert himself as elector. The reconstruction of the city of Bonn took years despite financial support from Elector Joseph Clemens. The fortifications were repaired relatively quickly.
As soon as the city was repaired to some extent, there was another siege by Allied troops in 1703 as part of the War of the Spanish Succession, in which Joseph Clemens was on the side of the French.
swell
- Bonnisches Siege Journal or detailed report on what happened daily at the memorable siege of the Chur-Cöllnische Residenz-Stadt Bonn under the Ober-Commando Sr. Churfürstl. Passed by Brandenburg and other high allies. Done in 1689. Hamburg 1689 digitized
literature
- Gebhard Aders , Bonn as a fortress. A contribution to the topography of the city and the history of its siege , publications by the Bonn City Archives, Volume 12, Bonn 1973.
- Edith Ennen, The three sieges. In: Edith Ennen / Dietrich Höroldt, From Roman fort to federal capital. Small history of the city of Bonn , 4th edition, Bonn 1985, p. 132 ff.
- Dietrich Höroldt (Ed.), Bonn as the capital and residence of the Electorate of Cologne , History of the City of Bonn, Volume 3, Bonn 1989.
- Bonn at war. In: Josef Niesen : Bonner Personenlexikon. 2nd, improved and enlarged edition. Bouvier, Bonn 2008, ISBN 978-3-416-03180-6 , p. 422 ff.
- North Rhine-Westphalian main state archive et al. (Ed.), Kurköln. Land under the crook . Essays and Documents, Kevelaer 1985.
- E. von Schaumburg: The siege of Bonn by Elector Friedrich III. von Brandenburg from July to October 1689. In: Bonn contributions to its history and its monuments. Bonn 1869.
- William Young: International Politics and Warfare in The Age of Louis XIV. And Peter the Great. Lincoln, 2004, 223f.
Web links
Individual evidence
- ↑ Here was related: Gaston Bodart: Military-historical War Lexicon, (1618-1905) . Vienna 1908, p. 117.
- ^ Martin Bock: Joseph Clemens von Bayern (1671-1723), Archbishop and Elector of Cologne (1688-1723) contribution to Rhenish history
- ^ Gerhard Aders, Bonn as a fortress. A contribution to the topography of the city of Bonn and the history of its siege , Bonn 1973, p. 63 f.
- ^ Josef Niesen: Bonner Personenlexikon. 2nd, improved and enlarged edition. Bouvier, Bonn 2008, ISBN 978-3-416-03180-6 , p. 426.
- ^ Gerhard Aders, Bonn as a fortress. A contribution to the topography of the city of Bonn and the history of its siege, Bonn 1973, p. 70 ff.
- ^ The inscriptions of the city of Bonn