Siege of Doullens
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The siege of Doullens, also known as the Spanish capture of Doullens or the Storming of Doullens, took place between 14 and 31 July 1595, as part of the Franco-Spanish War (1595-1598), in the context of the
French Wars of Religion The French Wars of Religion is the term which is used in reference to a period of civil war between French Catholic Church, Catholics and Protestantism, Protestants, commonly called Huguenots, which lasted from 1562 to 1598. According to estim ...
. After ten days of siege, on 24 July, the combined forces of
Henri de La Tour d'Auvergne, Duke of Bouillon Henri de La Tour d'Auvergne (''titular'' Duke of Bouillon, ''jure uxoris'', ''comte de Montfort et Negrepelisse, vicomte de Turenne, Castillon, et Lanquais'') (28 September 1555 – 25 March 1623) was a member of the powerful (then Huguenot) House ...
, André de Brancas, Amiral de Villars, and François d'Orléans-Longueville, tried to relieve the city, but were severely defeated by the Spanish forces led by Don Pedro Henríquez de Acevedo, Count of Fuentes, and Don
Carlos Coloma Don Carlos II Coloma y de Saa, knight of Santiago, 1st Marquess of Espinar (Alicante, 9 February 1566 – 23 November 1637, Madrid) was a Spanish military commander, diplomat and author. He is also known as a translator of Tacitus. Family Col ...
. Villars was taken prisoner and executed, and the Duke of Bouillon fled to
Amiens Amiens (English: or ; ; pcd, Anmien, or ) is a city and commune in northern France, located north of Paris and south-west of Lille. It is the capital of the Somme department in the region of Hauts-de-France. In 2021, the population of ...
with the rest of the French army. Finally, a few days after, on 31 July, the Spanish troops stormed
Doullens Doullens (; pcd, Dourlin; former nl, Dorland) is a commune in the Somme department, Hauts-de-France, France. Its inhabitants are called ''Doullennais'' and ''Doullennaises''. Geography Doullens is situated on the N25 road, in the northern ...
.Wernham p.30 The Spaniards killed everybody in the city, military and civilians alike, shouting ''"Remember Ham"'' ''(
Spanish Spanish might refer to: * Items from or related to Spain: **Spaniards are a nation and ethnic group indigenous to Spain **Spanish language, spoken in Spain and many Latin American countries **Spanish cuisine Other places * Spanish, Ontario, Can ...
: "Recordad Ham")'', in retaliation for the massacre against the Spanish garrison of
Ham Ham is pork from a leg cut of pork, cut that has been food preservation, preserved by wet or dry Curing (food preservation), curing, with or without smoking (cooking), smoking."Bacon: Bacon and Ham Curing" in ''Chambers's Encyclopædia''. Lo ...
by the French and Protestant soldiers under Bouillon's orders.Arthur Demarsy. pp.8–16


Prelude

During the
French Wars of Religion The French Wars of Religion is the term which is used in reference to a period of civil war between French Catholic Church, Catholics and Protestantism, Protestants, commonly called Huguenots, which lasted from 1562 to 1598. According to estim ...
the
Spanish Monarchy , coatofarms = File:Coat_of_Arms_of_Spanish_Monarch.svg , coatofarms_article = Coat of arms of the King of Spain , image = Felipe_VI_in_2020_(cropped).jpg , incumbent = Felipe VI , incumbentsince = 19 Ju ...
, as defender of
Catholicism The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the largest Christian church, with 1.3 billion baptized Catholics worldwide . It is among the world's oldest and largest international institutions, and has played a ...
, had intervened regularly in favour of the
Catholic League of France The Catholic League of France (french: Ligue catholique), sometimes referred to by contemporary (and modern) Catholics as the Holy League (), was a major participant in the French Wars of Religion. The League, founded and led by Henry I, Duke of ...
, especially in the siege of Paris of 1590, when
Henry of Navarre Henry IV (french: Henri IV; 13 December 1553 – 14 May 1610), also known by the epithets Good King Henry or Henry the Great, was King of Navarre (as Henry III) from 1572 and King of France from 1589 to 1610. He was the first monarc ...
, the future Henry IV of France, was decisively defeated by the combined forces of
Spain , image_flag = Bandera de España.svg , image_coat = Escudo de España (mazonado).svg , national_motto = ''Plus ultra'' (Latin)(English: "Further Beyond") , national_anthem = (English: "Royal March") , i ...
and the Catholic France.Horne pp.82–83 This Catholic success led the conversion of Henry to Catholicism declaring that ''"Paris is well worth a Mass"'', and finally, with the support of the majority of his Catholic subjects, he was crowned
King of France France was ruled by monarchs from the establishment of the Kingdom of West Francia in 843 until the end of the Second French Empire in 1870, with several interruptions. Classical French historiography usually regards Clovis I () as the first ...
at the Cathedral of Chartres on 27 February 1594.La Croix pp.179–180 In 1595,
Henry IV of France Henry IV (french: Henri IV; 13 December 1553 – 14 May 1610), also known by the epithets Good King Henry or Henry the Great, was King of Navarre (as Henry III) from 1572 and King of France from 1589 to 1610. He was the first monarc ...
officially declared the war against
Spain , image_flag = Bandera de España.svg , image_coat = Escudo de España (mazonado).svg , national_motto = ''Plus ultra'' (Latin)(English: "Further Beyond") , national_anthem = (English: "Royal March") , i ...
, who was attempting to reconquer large parts of northern France from the hostile Franco-Spanish Catholic forces.Demarsy pp.8–9 In the
Low Countries The term Low Countries, also known as the Low Lands ( nl, de Lage Landen, french: les Pays-Bas, lb, déi Niddereg Lännereien) and historically called the Netherlands ( nl, de Nederlanden), Flanders, or Belgica, is a coastal lowland region in N ...
, after the death of the
Archduke Ernest of Austria Archduke Ernest of Austria (german: Ernst von Österreich; 15 June 1553 – 20 February 1595) was an Austrian prince, the son of Maximilian II, Holy Roman Emperor, and Maria of Spain. Biography Born in Vienna, he was educated with his brothe ...
at
Brussels Brussels (french: Bruxelles or ; nl, Brussel ), officially the Brussels-Capital Region (All text and all but one graphic show the English name as Brussels-Capital Region.) (french: link=no, Région de Bruxelles-Capitale; nl, link=no, Bruss ...
on February 20, 1595, Don Pedro Henríquez de Acevedo, Count of Fuentes, became Governor-General of the Spanish Netherlands, until the arrival of
Albert Albert may refer to: Companies * Albert (supermarket), a supermarket chain in the Czech Republic * Albert Heijn, a supermarket chain in the Netherlands * Albert Market, a street market in The Gambia * Albert Productions, a record label * Alber ...
, sent by
Philip II of Spain Philip II) in Spain, while in Portugal and his Italian kingdoms he ruled as Philip I ( pt, Filipe I). (21 May 152713 September 1598), also known as Philip the Prudent ( es, Felipe el Prudente), was King of Spain from 1556, King of Portugal from ...
to Brussels to succeed his elder brother.Duerloo p.44 In June 1595, the Franco-Protestant forces of
Henri de La Tour d'Auvergne, Duke of Bouillon Henri de La Tour d'Auvergne (''titular'' Duke of Bouillon, ''jure uxoris'', ''comte de Montfort et Negrepelisse, vicomte de Turenne, Castillon, et Lanquais'') (28 September 1555 – 25 March 1623) was a member of the powerful (then Huguenot) House ...
and François d'Orléans-Longueville, Duke of
Château-Thierry Château-Thierry () is a French commune situated in the department of the Aisne, in the administrative region of Hauts-de-France, and in the historic Province of Champagne. The origin of the name of the town is unknown. The local tradition att ...
, taking
Ham Ham is pork from a leg cut of pork, cut that has been food preservation, preserved by wet or dry Curing (food preservation), curing, with or without smoking (cooking), smoking."Bacon: Bacon and Ham Curing" in ''Chambers's Encyclopædia''. Lo ...
, massacring the small Spanish garrison. Meanwhile, the Count of Fuentes and his forces, 5,000 Spanish troops (4,000 infantry and 1,000 cavalry),R. B. Wernham p.29 advanced over France, capturing
Le Catelet Le Catelet () is a commune in the Aisne department in Hauts-de-France in northern France. Population See also *Communes of the Aisne department The following is a list of the 799 communes in the French department of Aisne. The commu ...
. Reinforced by 3,000 more troops from Hainaut and
Artois Artois ( ; ; nl, Artesië; English adjective: ''Artesian'') is a region of northern France. Its territory covers an area of about 4,000 km2 and it has a population of about one million. Its principal cities are Arras (Dutch: ''Atrecht'') ...
, Fuentes continued with his offensive, and on July 14, arrived at
Doullens Doullens (; pcd, Dourlin; former nl, Dorland) is a commune in the Somme department, Hauts-de-France, France. Its inhabitants are called ''Doullennais'' and ''Doullennaises''. Geography Doullens is situated on the N25 road, in the northern ...
and started the siege. With the news of Doullens, Bouillon and François d'Orléans, Governor of
Picardy Picardy (; Picard and french: Picardie, , ) is a historical territory and a former administrative region of France. Since 1 January 2016, it has been part of the new region of Hauts-de-France. It is located in the northern part of France. Hi ...
,''After the dead of Henry I of Orléans, Duke of Longueville, his brother, François d'Orléans, became Governor of Picardy.'' Wernham p.29 joined with the ex-Leaguer André de Brancas, Amiral de Villars, and with the new combined forces, marched to help the besieged city. The French garrison of Doullens, unlike Le Catelet, hoping that reinforcements would arrive soon, prepared a good defense.Demarsy pp.9–10 On July 16, Valentín Pardieu de la Motte, one of the Spanish commanders, while studying the defences of Doullens, was killed by a lucky shot.Demarsy p.9


Battle

On July 24, the French forces arrived near Doullens. Villars, at the head of the French relief army, rushed to relieve the town instead of waiting for the reinforcements of
Louis Gonzaga, Duke of Nevers Louis de Gonzague, Duke of Nevers ( it, Ludovico, italic=no or Luigi di Gonzaga-Nevers; 18 September 1539 – 23 October 1595) was a soldier, governor and statesman during the French Wars of Religion. Of Italian extraction, his father and br ...
. Fuentes positioned part of his army, about 2,000 to 3,000 men, under Don
Carlos Coloma Don Carlos II Coloma y de Saa, knight of Santiago, 1st Marquess of Espinar (Alicante, 9 February 1566 – 23 November 1637, Madrid) was a Spanish military commander, diplomat and author. He is also known as a translator of Tacitus. Family Col ...
, to intercept the French forces.Demarsy pp.12–13 Villars launched a reckless cavalry attack against the Spaniards, creating confusion among the Spanish troops, but was repelled without much trouble, causing heavy casualties to the French. Then the French troops were surrounded by the Spaniards, and Fuentes punished them severely, massacring their infantry, and capturing their munitions, equipment,
flags A flag is a piece of textile, fabric (most often rectangular or quadrilateral) with a distinctive design and colours. It is used as a symbol, a signalling device, or for decoration. The term ''flag'' is also used to refer to the graphic desi ...
, and supplies. Villars was taken prisoner, and despite offering to pay ransom for his life, was executed by a shot through the head. Charles Bonaventure de Longueval participated in the siege of Doullens, Picardy, France in 1595. The siege of Doullens, also known as the Spanish capture of Doullens or the storming of Doullens, took place between 14 and 31 July 1595, as part of the Franco-Spanish War (1595-1598), in the context of the French Wars of Religion. On 31 July, the Spanish troops stormed Doullens. The Spaniards killed everybody in the city, military and civilians alike, shouting "Remember Ham", in retaliation for the massacre against the Spanish garrison of Ham by the French and Protestant soldiers under Bouillon orders. With Doullens secured, and reinforced with 1,500 men under Charles Bonaventure de Longueval, Count of Bucquoy, Fuentes advanced with the bulk of the army over the important fortress-city of Cambrai. Doullens was under Spanish control until the Peace of Vervins in 1598. The military and civilian population, about 3-4,000, were killed and their bodies thrown over the walls into pits; and this situation created a plague. Not all were killed. It is unknown how many nobles were spared and released after paying a ransom; however, Charles de Longueval and his brother Jean-Antoine de Longueval were spared and taken to the residence of their 3rd cousin Charles-Bonaventure de Longueval in Amiens. Charles de Longueval was wounded by a shot and died two weeks later, about August 15, 1595. His brother Jean-Antoine de Longueval was killed at the siege of Amiens two years later, in 1597. This defeat reduced further the
King King is the title given to a male monarch in a variety of contexts. The female equivalent is queen, which title is also given to the consort of a king. *In the context of prehistory, antiquity and contemporary indigenous peoples, the tit ...
's forces in Picardy, and the Duke of Bouillon fled to
Amiens Amiens (English: or ; ; pcd, Anmien, or ) is a city and commune in northern France, located north of Paris and south-west of Lille. It is the capital of the Somme department in the region of Hauts-de-France. In 2021, the population of ...
with what was left of the French army.Demarsy pp.13–14


Storming of Doullens

Fuentes now turned against Doullens again, and after two failed attempts, took the city on July 31.Demarsy p.14 Shouting ''"Remember Ham"'', the Spaniards killed everybody in the city, military and civilians alike, in revenge for the massacre against the Spanish-Catholic garrison of
Ham Ham is pork from a leg cut of pork, cut that has been food preservation, preserved by wet or dry Curing (food preservation), curing, with or without smoking (cooking), smoking."Bacon: Bacon and Ham Curing" in ''Chambers's Encyclopædia''. Lo ...
by the French and Protestant soldiers under the Duke of Bouillon. Between 3,000 and 4,000 people died in a few hours.Demarsy pp.14–15


Consequences

With Doullens secured, and reinforced with 1,500 men under
Charles Bonaventure de Longueval, Count of Bucquoy Charles Bonaventure de Longueval, 2nd Count of Bucquoy ( cs, Karel Bonaventura Buquoy, es, Carlos Buenaventura de Longueval, Conde de Bucquoy, full name in french: Charles Bonaventure de Longueval comte de Bucquoy, german: Karl Bonaventura Graf v ...
, Fuentes advanced with the bulk of the army over the important fortress-city of
Cambrai Cambrai (, ; pcd, Kimbré; nl, Kamerijk), formerly Cambray and historically in English Camerick or Camericke, is a city in the Nord (French department), Nord Departments of France, department and in the Hauts-de-France Regions of France, regio ...
.Knecht p.83 Henry IV, who was in
Lyon Lyon,, ; Occitan: ''Lion'', hist. ''Lionés'' also spelled in English as Lyons, is the third-largest city and second-largest metropolitan area of France. It is located at the confluence of the rivers Rhône and Saône, to the northwest of t ...
, was determined to save the city at all costs, but the precarious economic situation of Henry made it impossible to gather a relief army. He even appealed to the United Provinces for armed assistance, but the response was very slow. After a heavy bombardment, the Spanish troops captured the city. The Governor of Cambrai, Jean de Monluc, Seigneur de Balagny, retired to the citadel, but surrendered on 7 September. Doullens was under Spanish control until the
Peace of Vervins The Peace of Vervins or Treaty of Vervins was signed between the representatives of Henry IV of France and Philip II of Spain under the auspices of the papal legates of Clement VIII, on 2 May 1598 at the small town of Vervins in Picardy, northern ...
in 1598.


See also

*
French Wars of Religion The French Wars of Religion is the term which is used in reference to a period of civil war between French Catholic Church, Catholics and Protestantism, Protestants, commonly called Huguenots, which lasted from 1562 to 1598. According to estim ...
*
Siege of Calais (1596) The siege of Calais of 1596, also known as the Spanish conquest of Calais, took place at the strategic port-city of Calais (present-day Nord-Pas-de-Calais, France), between April 8–24, 1596, as part of the Franco-Spanish War (1595–1598), in t ...
*
Catholic League of France The Catholic League of France (french: Ligue catholique), sometimes referred to by contemporary (and modern) Catholics as the Holy League (), was a major participant in the French Wars of Religion. The League, founded and led by Henry I, Duke of ...
* List of Governors of the Spanish Netherlands


Notes


References

* R. B. Wernham. ''The Return of the Armadas: The Last Years of the Elizabethan War against Spain 1595-1603.'' Oxford University Press. 1994. * Horne, Alistair. Seven Ages of Paris: Portrait of a City. (2003) Pan Books. * Demarsy, Arthur.
La prise de Doullens par les Espagnols en 1595.
' Paris. 1867. * Knecht, Robert J. (1996). ''The French Wars of Religion 1559–1598.'' Seminar Studies in History (2nd ed.). New York: Longman. * Rene de La Croix; de Castries, Duc (1979). ''The Lives of the Kings & Queens of France.'' New York: Alfred A. Knopf. * John H. Elliott (2001). ''Europa en la época de Felipe II, 1559-1598.'' Barcelona: Editorial Crítica. * Luc Duerloo. ''Dynasty and Piety: Archduke Albert (1598-1621) and Habsburg Political Culture in an Age of Religious Wars.'' MPG Books Group. UK. *


External links


DBNL Chapter 31

La prise de Doullens par les Espagnols en 1595 by Arthur Demarsy
{{in lang, fr
Doullens Doullens (; pcd, Dourlin; former nl, Dorland) is a commune in the Somme department, Hauts-de-France, France. Its inhabitants are called ''Doullennais'' and ''Doullennaises''. Geography Doullens is situated on the N25 road, in the northern ...
Doullens Doullens (; pcd, Dourlin; former nl, Dorland) is a commune in the Somme department, Hauts-de-France, France. Its inhabitants are called ''Doullennais'' and ''Doullennaises''. Geography Doullens is situated on the N25 road, in the northern ...
Doullens Doullens (; pcd, Dourlin; former nl, Dorland) is a commune in the Somme department, Hauts-de-France, France. Its inhabitants are called ''Doullennais'' and ''Doullennaises''. Geography Doullens is situated on the N25 road, in the northern ...
Battles in Hauts-de-France Conflicts in 1595 1595 in France History of Somme (department)