Siege of Mons (1572)

Siege of Mons (1572)
Part of the Eighty Years' War and the Anglo-Spanish War (1585–1604)

Mons in 1572 by Frans Hogenberg
Date23 June – 19 September 1572
Location
Mons, Hainaut, Spanish Netherlands
Result

Spanish victory[1][2][3]

Belligerents
Dutch Republic Dutch Rebels
 England
French Huguenot forces		 Spain Spain
Commanders and leaders
Dutch Republic William of Orange
Dutch Republic Louis of Nassau
Jean de Hangest  (POW)		 Spain Duke of Alba
Spain Fadrique de Toledo
Spain Julián Romero
Spain Chiappino Vitelli
Strength
Louis of Nassau:
6,000–6,500 men[8]
Jean de Hangest:
10,000 men[9]
William of Orange:
14,000 infantry and 3,000 cavalry[10]		 8,500[11]
36 cannons

The siege of Mons of 1572 took place at Mons, capital of the County of Hainaut, Spanish Netherlands (present-day Belgium), between 23 June and 19 September 1572, as part of the Eighty Years' War, the Anglo-Spanish War (1585–1604), and the French Wars of Religion.[1][6] In the spring of 1572, after the capture of Valenciennes by a Protestant force under Louis of Nassau, the Dutch commander continued with his offensive and took Mons by surprise on 24 May.[6][12] After three months of siege, and the defeats of the armies of Jean de Hangest, seigneur d'Yvoy and Genlis, and William the Silent, Prince of Orange (Dutch: Willem van Oranje), by the Spanish army led by Don Fernando Álvarez de Toledo, Duke of Alba ("The Iron Duke"), Governor-General of the Spanish Netherlands,[5] and his son, Don Fadrique de Toledo,[6] Louis of Nassau's forces, isolated and without any hope of help, surrendered Mons to the Duke of Alba on 19 September.[6][13][14]

  1. ^ a b c David J.B. Trim p.162
  2. ^ Macgregor pp.211–212
  3. ^ a b Duffy. Siege Warfare: Fortress in the Early Modern World
  4. ^ Los Tercios de Flandes. Giménez Martín
  5. ^ a b Tracy pp.78–79
  6. ^ a b c d e Jaques p.676
  7. ^ With hope of French aid end at the St. Bartholomew's Eve massacre and the repulse of a relief army at Havré, the city surrendered. Jaques p. 676
  8. ^ Macgregor p.205
  9. ^ Macgregor p.207
  10. ^ Macgregor pp.205–206
  11. ^ Macgregor pp.207–214
  12. ^ The Eighty Years War (1568-1648)
  13. ^ Hernán/Maffi p.24
  14. ^ Without French assistance, William of Orange, leading a German mercenary army to aid his brother, was driven back into Germany; the garrison of Mons was thus cut off and –eventually– forced to accept the terms. Trim p.162