Siege of Doullens

Siege of Doullens
Part of the Franco-Spanish War (1595-1598)

View of the citadel of Doullens.
Date14–31 July 1595
Location
Doullens, Picardy, France
50°09′27″N 2°20′29″E / 50.1575°N 2.3414°E / 50.1575; 2.3414
Result Spanish victory[1][2]
Belligerents
Kingdom of France Kingdom of France
Huguenots		 Spain Spain
Commanders and leaders
Kingdom of France Duke of Bouillon
Kingdom of France François d'Orléans
Kingdom of France André de Brancas  (POW)		 Spain Count of Fuentes
Spain Carlos Coloma
Strength
Unknown 8,000[3]
Casualties and losses
At least 6,000 dead or captured[3][4] Unknown

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.[1][4] After ten days of siege, on 24 July, the combined forces of Henri de La Tour d'Auvergne, Duke of Bouillon, 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.[3] Villars was taken prisoner and executed, and the Duke of Bouillon fled to Amiens with the rest of the French army. Finally, a few days after, on 31 July, the Spanish troops stormed Doullens.[5] The Spaniards killed everybody in the city, military and civilians alike, shouting "Remember Ham" (Spanish: "Recordad Ham"), in retaliation for the massacre against the Spanish garrison of Ham by the French and Protestant soldiers under Bouillon's orders.[1][4]

  1. ^ a b c Wernham pp.29–30
  2. ^ Fuentes punished the French army severely for their temerity, repulsing their horsemen, massacring their infantry, and capturing their munitions and supplies. R. B. Wernham
  3. ^ a b c Wernham p.29
  4. ^ a b c Arthur Demarsy. pp.8–16
  5. ^ Wernham p.30