Siege of Maastricht (1673)

Siege of Maastricht
Part of the Franco-Dutch War
Louis XIV in front of the besieged city.
Date 13–30 June 1673 (1673-06-13 – 1673-06-30) Location Maastricht, Dutch Republic Result French victory
Belligerents
France	Dutch Republic
Commanders and leaders
Louis XIV Sebastien Vauban Marquis de Montbrun Comte de Montal Charles de Batz de Castelmore d'Artagnan †	Jacques de Fariaux
Strength
24,000 infantry 16,000 cavalry 58 guns	5,000 infantry 1,200 cavalry
Casualties and losses
2,300+	1,700

The siege of Maastricht took place from 13 to 30 June 1673 during the Franco-Dutch War of 1672 to 1678, when a French army captured the Dutch fortress of Maastricht. The city occupied a key strategic position on the Meuse river and its capture was the main French objective for 1673. It was returned to the Dutch under the terms of the 1678 Treaty of Nijmegen.^[1]

The siege was conducted by the French military engineer Vauban and is thought to be the first use of a technique known as the "siege parallel", a concept that remained in use until the mid-20th century. Casualties included Charles de Batz de Castelmore d'Artagnan, reputedly the inspiration for the central character in Alexandre Dumas' historical novel The Three Musketeers.^[1]