Siege of Guadeloupe

Siege of Guadeloupe
Part of War of the Spanish Succession
Guadeloupe; the English landed on Basse-Terre
Date 19 March – 15 May 1703 (8 March to 4 May, O.S.) [1] Location Guadeloupe, French West Indies Result French victory
Belligerents
France	England
Commanders and leaders
Charles Auger Nicolas de Gabaret	Christopher Codrington Charles Wills
Strength
1,000 – 1,800 12 ships	4,000 troops and militia 45 ships

The siege of Guadeloupe took place from March to May 1703 during the War of the Spanish Succession, when an English expeditionary force led by Christopher Codrington landed on Guadeloupe in the French West Indies, and laid siege to the capital of Basse-Terre. Charles Auger, the French governor, received reinforcements from Martinique led by Nicolas de Gabaret. The latter opted for a Fabian strategy and scorched earth tactics, destroying resources and Fort St Charles in the process. A lack of supplies and heavy losses from disease forced the English to lift the siege in May.