siege
A siege () . is a military blockade of a city, or fortress, with the intent of conquering by attrition, or by well-prepared assault. Siege warfare (also called siegecrafts or poliorcetics) is a form of constant, low-intensity conflict charact ...
of Fuenterrabía took place in 1523-24 by a Spanish army, after a Franco- Navarrese army had taken it in 1521 in a new incursion to reconquer the
Kingdom of Navarre
The Kingdom of Navarre ( ), originally the Kingdom of Pamplona, occupied lands on both sides of the western Pyrenees, with its northernmost areas originally reaching the Atlantic Ocean (Bay of Biscay), between present-day Spain and France.
The me ...
, which had been occupied since 1512 by troops from the unified
Crown of Castile
The Crown of Castile was a medieval polity in the Iberian Peninsula that formed in 1230 as a result of the third and definitive union of the crowns and, some decades later, the parliaments of the kingdoms of Kingdom of Castile, Castile and Kingd ...
and
Crown of Aragon
The Crown of Aragon (, ) ;, ; ; . was a composite monarchy ruled by one king, originated by the dynastic union of the Kingdom of Aragon and the County of Barcelona (later Principality of Catalonia) and ended as a consequence of the War of the Sp ...
.
The Fuenterrabía of the 16th century also included most of the municipal term of the current city of
Irun
Irun (, ) is a town of the Bidasoaldea region in the province of Gipuzkoa in the Basque Autonomous Community, Spain.
History
It lies on the foundations of the ancient Oiasso, cited as a Roman- Vasconic town.
During the Spanish Civil War, ...
Pasajes de San Juan
Pasaia () is a town and Municipalities of Spain, municipality located in the province of Gipuzkoa in the Basque Country (autonomous community), Basque Autonomous Community of northern Spain. It is a fishing community, commercial port and the birth ...
). The town and fortress were located on a hill surrounded by thick walls, mountains and the sea at the mouth of the
Bidasoa
__NOTOC__
The Bidasoa (; ; , ) is a river in the Basque Country of northern Spain and southern France that runs largely south to north. Named as such downstream of the village of Oronoz-Mugairi (municipality of Baztan) in the province of Navar ...
River.
Its border situation and its geographic characteristics made both
Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor
Charles V (24 February 1500 – 21 September 1558) was Holy Roman Emperor and Archduke of Austria from 1519 to 1556, King of Spain (as Charles I) from 1516 to 1556, and Lord of the Netherlands as titular Duke of Burgundy (as Charles II) ...
and
Francis I of France
Francis I (; ; 12 September 1494 – 31 March 1547) was King of France from 1515 until his death in 1547. He was the son of Charles, Count of Angoulême, and Louise of Savoy. He succeeded his first cousin once removed and father-in-law Louis&nbs ...
covet its possession. For this reason, both nations appointed commissioners to elucidate the exact water border in the conflicts of the towns of Fuenterrabía and
kingdom of Navarre
The Kingdom of Navarre ( ), originally the Kingdom of Pamplona, occupied lands on both sides of the western Pyrenees, with its northernmost areas originally reaching the Atlantic Ocean (Bay of Biscay), between present-day Spain and France.
The me ...
after its invasion by the Crowns of Castile and Aragon, in which Marshal Pedro de Navarre with 2000 men within the contingent of Lautrec were stopped by Luis I de la Cueva, II Lord of Solera. To prevent another invasion, the fortification proceeded, ordering in November of that year the construction of a castle in Behovia, which reinforced the effectiveness of the Fuenterrabía fort.
As of 1517, the territorial rights of the area were defined by law by the two kingdoms, that of
Spain
Spain, or the Kingdom of Spain, is a country in Southern Europe, Southern and Western Europe with territories in North Africa. Featuring the Punta de Tarifa, southernmost point of continental Europe, it is the largest country in Southern Eur ...
and that of
France
France, officially the French Republic, is a country located primarily in Western Europe. Overseas France, Its overseas regions and territories include French Guiana in South America, Saint Pierre and Miquelon in the Atlantic Ocean#North Atlan ...
, leaving the old Kingdom of Navarre divided.
Franco-Navarre offensive
At the beginning of October 1521 the castle of Behovia was taken by the troops commanded by the French Admiral Guillermo Goufier, Lord of Bonnivet, with hardly any casualties, since little resistance was offered. He next surrounded the fortress of Fuenterrabía on October 6, taking it twelve days later, after three assaults by Navarrese and Gascon volunteers, among which nearly a thousand casualties occurred. Diego de Vera, warden of the plaza, surrendered on October 18.
The Lord of Bonnivent established a garrison with 3,000 men, who were 2,000 Gascons and 1,000 Navarrese under the orders of Jacques D'Aillon, Lord of Luda, who remained as mayor of the square "in the name of the King of Navarre". For this reason, the
flag of Navarre
The flag of Navarre, the flag of the autonomous community of Navarre, was designed in 1910 by Arturo Campión, Julio Altadill, and Hermilio de Oloriz. In 1910, the design was approved by the Provincial Council of Navarre and it was sanctioned by ...
was waving throughout the siege, despite the intention of the French to raise their flag.
Charles V Charles V may refer to:
Kings and Emperors
* Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor (1500–1558)
* Charles V of Naples (1661–1700), better known as Charles II of Spain
* Charles V of France (1338–1380), called the Wise
Others
* Charles V, Duke ...
requested the
arbitration
Arbitration is a formal method of dispute resolution involving a third party neutral who makes a binding decision. The third party neutral (the 'arbitrator', 'arbiter' or 'arbitral tribunal') renders the decision in the form of an 'arbitrati ...
of King
Henry VIII of England
Henry VIII (28 June 149128 January 1547) was King of England from 22 April 1509 until his death in 1547. Henry is known for his Wives of Henry VIII, six marriages and his efforts to have his first marriage (to Catherine of Aragon) annulled. ...
to intervene before Francis I and ask him to return the fortress. Knowledge of these conversations by the Navarrese was decisive for the replacement of the garrison months later.
Gipuzkoa
Gipuzkoa ( , ; ; ) is a province of Spain and a historical territory of the autonomous community of the Basque Country. Its capital city is Donostia-San Sebastián. Gipuzkoa shares borders with the French department of Pyrénées-Atlantiqu ...
, although he had already held the position previously. He received a significant increase in troops from different places, between 3000 and 4,000 German
Landsknechts
The (singular: , ), also rendered as Landsknechts or Lansquenets, were German mercenaries used in pike and shot formations during the early modern period. Consisting predominantly of pikemen and supporting foot soldiers, their front line was f ...
, and soldiers recruited in Castile, Navarre, Aragón, Vizcaya,
La Rioja
La Rioja () is an autonomous communities in Spain, autonomous community and provinces of Spain, province in Spain, in the north of the Iberian Peninsula. Its capital is Logroño. Other List of municipalities in La Rioja, cities and towns in the ...
and
Álava
Álava () or Araba (), officially Araba/Álava, is a Provinces of Spain, province of Spain and a historical territory of the Basque Country (autonomous community), Basque Country, heir of the ancient Basque señoríos#Lords of Álava, Lordship ...
.
Faced with the difficulties in defending the castle of Behovia, the French army decided to abandon it. The withdrawal was carried out correctly, taking the cannons, weapons, and provisions. Later, different explosive charges were arranged to destroy its walls, but its fuses were extinguished by the Castilian troops under the command of Captain Ochoa Sanz de Asua, who took the castle.
Two days later, the Battle of Mount Aldabe or San Marcial took place.
In July 1522, the troops in the fortress Fuenterrabía considered to surrender due to starvation. After ten months without being supplied, deaths from starvation began to occur. But then French troops, after crossing the
Bidasoa
__NOTOC__
The Bidasoa (; ; , ) is a river in the Basque Country of northern Spain and southern France that runs largely south to north. Named as such downstream of the village of Oronoz-Mugairi (municipality of Baztan) in the province of Navar ...
and making the Imperial troops flee, were able to supply the fortress and renew the garrison. For this reason, Beltrán de la Cueva was dismissed, and was replaced by Íñigo Fernández de Velasco,
Constable of Castile
Constable of Castile () was a title of a military nature created by John I, King of Castile in 1382, as a result of the Third Fernandine War against the Portuguese and the English.
The post substituted the title of ''Alférez Mayor del Reino'' ...
.
The French naval control of the fortress' harbor allowed the supply to be maintained. Throughout the siege, the red flag of Navarre flew in the fortress, although the French tried to impose theirs.
In the winter of 1523–1524, a great offensive was organized by Emperor Charles V against Francis I, to occupy
Toulouse
Toulouse (, ; ; ) is a city in southern France, the Prefectures in France, prefecture of the Haute-Garonne department and of the Occitania (administrative region), Occitania region. The city is on the banks of the Garonne, River Garonne, from ...
,
Lower Navarre
Lower Navarre (; Gascon/Bearnese: ''Navarra Baisha''; ; ) is a traditional region of the present-day French '' département'' of Pyrénées-Atlantiques. It corresponds to the northernmost ''region'' of the Kingdom of Navarre during the Middle A ...
,
Bayonne
Bayonne () is a city in southwestern France near the France–Spain border, Spanish border. It is a communes of France, commune and one of two subprefectures in France, subprefectures in the Pyrénées-Atlantiques departments of France, departm ...
and Fuenterrabia. This campaign failed after 24 days with the loss of a quarter of the army due to
desertion
Desertion is the abandonment of a military duty or post without permission (a pass, liberty or leave) and is done with the intention of not returning. This contrasts with unauthorized absence (UA) or absence without leave (AWOL ), which ...
s and
disease
A disease is a particular abnormal condition that adversely affects the structure or function (biology), function of all or part of an organism and is not immediately due to any external injury. Diseases are often known to be medical condi ...
. The remaining troops regrouped and joined the bulk of the army surrounding Fuenterrabía.
On 2 February 1524, the
bombardment
A bombardment is an attack by artillery fire or by dropping bombs from aircraft on fortifications, combatants, or cities and buildings.
Prior to World War I, the term was only applied to the bombardment of defenseless or undefended obje ...
of the fortress began and negotiations for surrender began. On 27 February the French abandoned the fortress, leaving only Navarrese soldiers, the most notable being Pedro de Navarre, son of Marshal Pedro de Navarra who had been killed in strange circumstances, presumably assassinated, in the Simancas prison in 1522.
On 29 February 1524, pardon was granted to the surrounded Navarrese garrison, with the condition that within two months they surrendered and gave an oath and loyalty to Charles V. The fortress was surrendered on 29 April.