From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Siege of Saint-Omer
Siege of Saint-Omer
Francis, Prince of Carignano surprised Châtillon’s troops
Siege of Saint-Omer
and established a small fort in middle of the French
Part of the Thirty Years’ War and the Franco-Spanish lines.[2] An entire army corps under Maréchal de La Force
War (1635-1659) was ordered to move towards Saint-Omer to support
Châtillon siege, but on July 12 a further Spanish-Imperial
force commanded by Ottavio Piccolomini entered Saint-
Omer, resolving the French marshalls to withdraw.[2]
Background
In June 1635 the allied armies of Dutch Republic and
France invaded the Spanish Netherlands from two sides
and joined forces in the valley of the Meuse while the
Spanish field army under the Cardinal-Infante fell back
to cover Brussels. The invading armies captured a few
The relief of Saint-Omer by Pieter Snayers. Oil on canvas.
smaller places before investing Leuven. The siege was a
Museo del Prado, Madrid. costly failure due to bad logistics and organization, and
because the French army was decimated by the plague.[4]
Date May 24 – July 16, 1638 The Cardinal-Infante was then able to counter-attack and
pushed the Franco-Dutch army back to the Dutch border
Location Saint-Omer and its outskirts, Spanish
Netherlands (present-day France) in the direction of Cleves, recapturing Diest and
Tienen,[4] and surprising the Dutch fortress of Schenken-
Result Spanish victory schans, where a large garrison was put then in. The
Duchy of Cleves was occupied during August and Septem-
Belligerents
ber[5] with the aim of linking the fort with the main
Spain France body of the Spanish Netherlands.[5] while Frederick Hen-
ry, Prince of Orange, started the siege of Schenken-
Commanders and leaders
schans. The fortress fell after a long and costly siege that
Thomas Francis, Prince Gaspard III de Coligny, lasted even through the winter months.[4] Meanwhile,
of Carignano, Jacques-Nompar de Caumont, the Cardinal Richelieu took the desition of remove Châtil-
Ottavio Piccolomini duc de la Force lon from the command and focused France’s effort in the
Strength Rhineland.[6]
In the first months of 1636, while the French armies
20,000 infantry and 10,000 infantry,
suffered further defeats against the Duke Charles of Lor-
cavalry[1] 3,000 cavalry
(Châtillon)[2][3] raine and the Imperial generalissimo Matthias Gallas, the
16,000 infantry and cavalry Count-Duke of Olivares insisted the Cardinal-Infante to
(La Force)[3] continue concentrating the war effort in exploting the
Casualties and losses
gains in the Lower Rhine and in northern Brabant rather
than in an offensive against France, even after the loss
unknown 4,000 casualties[1] of Schenkenschans. In late May, however, the offensive
operations were suspended and a secondary thrust was
The Siege of Saint-Omer (May 24 – July 16, 1638) was a launched into France, according to the Cardinal-Infante,
siege in the Thirty Years’ War in which a French army because of a dramatic change of the circumstances. Philip
under Gaspard III de Coligny, Maréchal de Châtillon, laid IV write to his brother on June ordering him to advance
siege to the Spanish city of Saint-Omer, defended by a into northern Brabant to try to recapture Schenk. Mean-
small garrison in command of Lancelot of Grobbendonck, while the Emperor, whose position in Germany had
Baron of Wezemaal. Despite several initial successes in strengthened since the Peace of Prague, had projected an
the capture of the minor forts around Saint-Omer, on the invasion of the eastern France, but as his force was not
night of 8/9 June a Spanish relief army under Thomas enough larger due to logistical problems, he proposed a
joint invasion to the Cardinal-Infante.
1
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Siege of Saint-Omer
Portrait of Gaspar de Guzmán, Count-Duke of Olivares, by
Diego Velázquez.
Olivares, though distressed for the loss of Corbie,
planned a renewed offensive against France for the fol-
lowing year, so Ferdinand began to mass his forces on
the French border.[10] In July Frederick Henry of Orange,
seizing the moment, invested Breda in command of
Cardinal-Infante Ferdinand of Austria, Governor of the Low
Countries, attributed to Justus Sustermans. 22,000 soldiers.[11] Garrisoned by 3,000 Spaniards, Ital-
ians, Wallons and Burgundians, Breda was one of the
main fortresses of the Spanish Netherlands and a symbol
On 4 July the Cardinal-Infante, commanding a lightly
of the Spanish power in Europe.[12] A Spanish force under
equipped army, crossed the frontier via Avesnes and took
the Cardinal-Infante Ferdinand attempted to relieve the
the fortresses of Le Catelet and La Capelle.[7] Alarmed
garrison of the city, but failed to dislodge the be-
by this easy advance, the King of France Louis XIII was
siegers.[13] Ferdinand decided move with his army to the
forced to move to Paris from Fontainebleau.[7] The Span-
valley of the Meuse, where he took Venlo and Roermond
ish army, then led by Thomas Francis of Carignano, the
in order to distract Frederick Henry.[14] He was, nev-
commander of the Army of Flanders,[8] successfully
ertheless, forced to turn back shortly after due to the
crossed the Somme and invested the vital fortress of Cor-
French advances in Artois, Hainaut and Luxembourg, and
bie, which surrendered a week later.[7] The Cardinal
Breda was captured by the Dutch on 7 October.[13]
Richelieu had no other choice but to suspend the offen-
For the campaign of 1638, Philip IV instructed the
sive against the Franche-Comté, ordering the army un-
Cardinal-Infante to undertake an offensive strategy
der Henri de Bourbon, Prince de Condé and Charles de
against the Dutch in order to subject them to massive
La Porte de La Meilleraye to withdraw to defend Paris.
pressure and force them to agree a favourable truce and
Another Ferdinand’s general, Ottavio Piccolomini, tried
the restoration of their conquests in Brazil, Breda, Maas-
to persuade the Cardinal-Infante of advance further into
tricht, Rheinberg and Orsoy.[15] His main objective would
France, but Ferdinand considered that such operation
be the capture of Rheinberg, which would give to Spain
could risk his army and soon retreated to Cambrai, before
a crossing point in the Lower Rhine and contribute to
the Imperialist invasion had begun. The French armies
tightening the blockade over Masstritch.[13] Ferdinand
regained most of the lost ground over the following
was also ordered, when the offensive operations had fin-
months,[9] including Corbie, an operation that absorbed
ished, to quarter his army near the Dutch frontier to pro-
the entire French army and was led directly by Richelieu.
tect Antwerp, which had become vulnerable since the
2
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Siege of Saint-Omer
loss of Breda, and even to reinforce the garrisons of many sham, all of them commanded by Captain Luis de Mieses,
secondary fortresses.[16] who was ordered to take command of Saint-Omer’s gar-
rison for being the oldest officer in the town.[18] Lancelot
Siege de Grobbendock, the former commander who was either
in Saint-Omer, was given the order of defend the outpost
of Bacq, a crucial position to receive relief from the Span-
First operations ish lines since it controlled a channel of the Aa river giv-
ing access to the town.[18] Châtillon was warned by many
of his officers, Sieurs de La Barre, de Manican and Le
Rasle, of the urgent need to take Bacq.[20] The French
marshall avoided a direct assault, but the fort was even-
tually occupied when Baron of Wezemaal, seeing the
weakness of his position, decided to withdraw into Saint-
Omer with his troops.[18]
Litohgraphie representing the ruins of the church of Saint
Bertin, by Ulysses Delhom.
Châtillon, seeing that Saint-Omer was garrisoned just by
4 companies of the Tercio of José de Saavedra numbering
1,000 men and about 300 cavalry, while the town re-
quired more than 3,000 soldiers to be properly defended,
resolved to besiege it.[17] By 26 May his army had invest-
ed the town. Three days later the outpost of Arques was
captured. Its defenders, 50 soldiers of the Walloon Tercio
of Baron of Wezemaal and his officer, surrendered after a
brief bombardment by the French artillery.[17]
Having installed his headquarters in Arques, Châtil-
lon proceeded to attack St. Bertin de Clairmarais Abbey, a
good defensive position.[17] Captains Lannoy and Dutally,
of Wezemaal’s tercio, hold back the French assaults un-
til they became lack of gunpowder, which forced them
to surrender, even though in good conditions.[18] The Portrait of Gaspard de Coligny (1584-1646), count of Châtillon
French Captain Campi of the Régiment de Navarre lost sur Loing, by Jan Antonisz. van Ravesteyn.
his arm during the fight.[19] Châtillon’s main objective
was then isolate Saint-Omer by blocking all the accesses Having left a garrison under Sieur de Genlin in
to the town. With this aim he sent Sieur de La Ferté- Bacq,[21] Châtillon proceeded to capture 3 small forts de-
Imbault to capture all the forts located between Ardres fending the Canal de Neufossé to continue the circumval-
and Saint-Omer, which would also secure their own sup- lation of Saint-Omer.[22] The strongest of them, in com-
plies, brought from Calais.[20] The strongest fortresses, mand of Viscount Furnes, Great bailiff of Cassel, capitu-
Dumenghen and Ennuin, could not be taken. Duc de la lated without oppose resistance.[22] The other two, de-
Force’s troops had to be therefore employed to protect fended by the villeins of the castellany, were taken by
the supply convoys against possible ambushes.[20] the force, being most of their defenders slaughtered.[22]
Paul Bernard de Fontaine, a Lorrainer in Spanish ser- French cavalry troops under Colonel Silar were then able
vice who was governor of Brugges since 1629 and one of to cross the Neufossé and enter Flanders, where they
the oldest officers of the Army of Flanders, moved with plundered Cassel and several other villages before return
his troops from Flanders to the village of Watten as soon with Châtillon.[19] A great booty was obtained.[22] Lieu-
as was informed of the French movements.[18] From Wat- tenant General François de L’Hospital, Seigneur Du Halli-
ten Fontaine relieved Saint-Omer by sending to the town er, meanwhile, had occupied the Abbey of Ouate.[19] Fon-
4 companies of the Spanish Tercio of Marquis of Vela- taine, whose position in Watten had became insecure due
da and 2 companies of the English Tercio of William Tre- to the loss of the forts around Saint-Omer, decided to re-
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From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Siege of Saint-Omer
treat to Bergues-St. Vinocx after set fire to the village to solved to relieve the town alone to enable its garrison
avoid its use by the French. He later marched to Brussels to keep the resistance for longer.[24] With this aim he
to be appointed General of the artillery.[22] disposed four flying squadrons, each one on 1,000 men,
commanded respectively by Maestre de Campo Count of
First relief Fuensaldaña, Maestre de Campo Owen Roe O’Neill, Sar-
gento Mayor Dionisio de Guzmán of Fuensaldaña’s tercio;
and Maestro de Campo Francesco de Toralto.[24] They
were accompanied by the Neapolitan Tercio of Toralto,
the tercio of Marquis de Velada under Sargento Mayor
Juan Porcel, the German Regiments of Colonels Spinola
and Rouveroy, the English Tercios of William Tresham
and Henry Gage, Owen Roe O’Neill’s Irish tercio under
his Sargento mayor, José de Saavedra’s Tercio divided in
two squadrons, one of them under Saavadera himself and
the other under’Sargento Mayor Diego López de Zúñi-
ga,[25] and 2,000 cavalrymen under Johann von Nassau-
Siegen, who was accompanied by Juan de Vivero, Lieu-
tenant General of Cavalry of the Army of the French
Frontier and Fuensaldaña’s brother, and a Croatian reg-
iment under Colonel Ludovico.[24] Count of Forjaz was
sent across the Neufossé to attack the French troops at
their quarters while Francisco de Pardo, Commissar Gen-
eral of the Cavalry of the Army of the French Frontier, re-
mained in the rear with several battalions.[25]
Thomas Francis, Prince of Carignano by Antony van Dyck.
Count Ernest von Isenburg-Grenzau, having been or-
dered move to Flanders diligently, departed Arleux with
the Tercios of Carlo Guasco and Francesco Toralto, an
artillery Lieutenant General with several artilley pieces,
Don Juan de Vivero with some cavalry, and three com-
panies of Wezemaal’s tercio.[22] He passed Béthune and View of Watten in 1662. Engraving of Flandria Illustrata by An-
arrived to Chocquesand, joining forces during the march ton Sander.
with José de Saavedra’s Tercio and its cavalry.[23] They
crossed the Lys river at Merville, and a day later reached At the same time that the relief force marched to
Poperinge, where the Prince Thomas of Carignano took Saint-Omer, Thomas of Carignano sent Paolo Fanfanelli,
the command of the Spanish army.[23] Most of his troops Sargento Mayor of Carlo Guasco’s tercio, and his soldiers,
were quartered in Bourbourg and other nearby villages to occupy the tower of the Abbey of Watten, located on
while himself and his staff discussed how relieve Saint- top of a hill and guarded by 50 French soldiers under an
Omer, a difficult task, as the majority of the forts around officer since Count Paul Bernard de Fontaine had aban-
the town were occupied by the French, whose army was doned the village.[26] Lacking of supplies and discouraged
twice as large as the Spanish.[23] Châtillon’s soldiers, by the size of the Spanish army, they promptly surren-
however, had not begun to dug trenches around the town dered.[26] Châtillon, thinking that Watten was a crucial
yet because his commander was awaiting to give orders position to control the riverside of the Neufossé, had dis-
to do it when the Dutch States Army had launched its patched the Regiments d’Espagni and de Fouquerolles
offensive against Antwerp. Despite his passive attitude, over the village, but they arrived after the tower had sur-
Saint-Omer’s reduced garrison was need of supplies and rendered.[26]
gunpowder.[23] Colonels Espagni and Fouquerolles, seeing the diffi-
Thomas of Carignano, seeing that the Imperial army culty of withdraw, formed their regiments in a meadow
under Ottavio Piccolomini could not arrive on time, re- surrounded by hedges, disposed to negotiate with the
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From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Siege of Saint-Omer
and brought within the town.[29] French troops opened
fire over the boats with artillery and muskets, but the re-
lief entered Saint-Omer withuot difficulties, and Spino-
la was able to return to the Spanish camp.[29] Thomas of
Carignano was satisfied with the outcome of the opera-
tion and returned to Bourbourg with his troops. On his
arrival the army was disbanded and each unit returned to
its quarter.[29]
Siege of Saint-Omer
Portrait of Sir Henry Gage by John Weesop.
Spanish.[26] Fanfanelli, nevertheless, attacked them.[26]
The Spanish cavalry, alerted by the shots, made soon ap-
pearance led by Francisco Pardo and overran the French
troops, who threw their weapons down asking for mer-
cy.[27] Fanfanelli and Pardo accepted their surrender.[27]
After that, Guasco’s Tercio and the cavalry took all the
spoils and the baggage, leaving naked most of the French
soldiers.[27] The loss on the Spanish side was light and
consisted of 2 captains, Marco Antonio Felice and Count
Evandro Piccolomini, nephew of the Imperial marshall,
and 5 soldiers killed.[27] The French lost Colonel Fou-
Anonymous engraving of François de L’Hospital, seigneur du
querolles, 5 captains and 22 soldiers killed being also 16
Hallier.
captains, 20 lieutenants, 17 second lieutenants, 13 sear-
gents and 1,220 soldiers captured[28] and took to Bour-
Although Saint-Omer had been relieved, the pressure
bourg.[27] The ransom paid later for the prisoners was
over the town increased, and at the same time the Dutch
distributed between Guasco’s Tercio and Pardo’s caval-
States Army captured one of the major Spanish forts de-
ry.[27]
fending Antwerp.[30] Piccolomini remained then in Bra-
Thomas of Carignan, having recognized the extensive
bant with his troops to relief, if necessary, the Cardinal-
French works around the Fort of Bacq, decided to encamp
Infante.[30] The French, meanwhile, continued working
his army in the meadows of the area to avoid a pitched
in the forts and redoubts of the circumvallation line.[19]
battle.[29] During the night a relief operation was orga-
Châtillon directed the works from his headquarters while
nized in coordination with the garrison of Saint-Omer.
Du Hallier reinforced the garrison of Bacq and Clair-
Captain Luis de Mieses exited the town with several boats
marais Abbey, whose works had been finished by 14
and went to the village of Nieurlet through the canals of
June.[19] The marshy land that surrounded Saint-Omer,
the marshes.[29] 300 Germans of the Regiment Spinola,
however, greatly difficulted the digging of trenches, the
200 Italians of the tercios of Guasco and Toralto and 100
building of redoubts and the passage of horses and con-
English of Henry Gage’s tercio previously dispatched to
voys.[19] During that days one of La Force officers, Sieur
the village under Colonel Giovanni Agostino Spinola, plus
de Lermont, began to work a fort in a levee coming from
supplies consisting of gunpowder and matches provided
Ardres to secure definitely Châtillon’s corps supplies.[19]
by Marquis of Fuentes, were embarked aboard the boats
5
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Siege of Saint-Omer
It was promptly captured by the Spanish, and Châtillon, The Spanish garrison sent Ensign Ochoa across the
pressed by its loss, asked Louis XIII to approach La Force’s French lines to warn Thomas of Carignano of the prob-
corps to Saint-Omer to tighten the siege over the lem.[33] The siege works concentrated on the hill of Saint
town.[31] The king was surprised by this demand, since Michel, which was free of swamps. Several batteries were
shortly before Châtillon had requested the dispatch of installed atop of the hill and a fierce bombardment en-
the Regiments of Jean de Gassion and Henri de La Ferté- sued, being a large number of buildings damaged by the
Senneterre with the condition that he would not ask for mortar shells.[33] The command of Saint-Omer, then con-
more reinforcements,[31] but La Force was eventually or- sisting of a council whose members were Ochoa, the Vis-
dered by Louis’ ministers to move towards Châtillon to count of Lier, Monsieur de Branduque, Baron of Weze-
support him, and quartered his troops at Zutkerque.[19] maal, Luis de Mieses and the Sargento Mayor of the Reg-
iment Spinola, decided that the most exposed ravelins
would be occupied by the Spaniards of the tercios of
Saavedra and Velada.[34] The night of 2 July, several sol-
diers under Captain don Rodrigo de Rojas, of Velada’s ter-
cio, made a sortie against Du Hallier works, but were re-
jected by the Scottish Regiment of Colonel Lord James
Douglas.[19] Rojas received a musket shot in the leg, but
survived.[34]
Map of Saint-Omer in 1612 by Joan Blaeu.
Portrait of Johann von Nassau-Siegen by Jan Antonisz. van Thomas of Carignano, once warned by Ochoa, re-
Ravesteyn. solved to capture of the redoubt near Bacq.[35] He feared
a revolt of the population of the town against the garri-
Thomas of Carignano sent Johann von Nassau-Siegen son, and although the Bishop and the Abbot of St. Bertin
in command of most of the Spanish cavalry and a flying de Clairmarais placated them, it was suspected that
squadron of all the tercios under Maestre de Campo somebody within the city maintained contact with the
Francesco de Toralto to expel the French troops from a French.[36] For the attack on the fort, known as Fort St.
newly built redoubt which defended a leeve in Hennuin Jean, the Prince put 600 Spaniards of the tercios of Saave-
near La Force’s position, but they retreated considering dra and Velada, 200 Germans of the Regiment of Rouvroy
that the levee was too close to attack without carrying and 200 Irish of O’Neill’s tercio under Maestre de Campo
boards as protection against the musketry fire.[32] José de Saavedra, besides 4 artillery pieces and 2 cavalry
Thomas of Carignano found then necessary reinforce the companies.[36] The prince informed Saavedra that he
village of Ruminghem to avoid its occupation by the would find 2,000 fagots to cover the front of the trenches
French.[32] That mission was easily accomplished by José at the bridge of Sainte-Marie-Kerque and said him that
de Saavedra and his tercio.[32] The prince considered the most of the cavalry under Johann von Nassau-Siegen and
following morning attack himself the French fort and 2,000 infantry commanded by Count of Fuensaldaña and
moved with all his troops to Ardres.[33] He sent Captain Francesco de Toralto would isolate St. Jean from any
Gilles, an engineer, to prepare the works needed for the force of relief.[37]
assault, which were built over a week. A 50-men cavalry
party led by Count of Fuensaldaña, nevertheless, con- Capture of Fort St. Jean
firmed Toralto views on the narrowes of the levee.[33] Saavedra and his troops arrived to Fort St. Jean during
By the night of 29/30 June the French sappers began the night. The Maestre the Campo sent Captain Don Bar-
to dug trenches towards the ramparts of Saint-Omer.[19] tolomé del Río to inspect the area while two pieces of ar-
6
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Siege of Saint-Omer
Captain Antonio Pimentel de Prado, engraving by Peter de Jode
over a drawing by Caspar Heilandre.
Engraving of Jacques-Nompar de Caumont, duc de la Force.
tillery were mounted in the levee and the other two atop Anonymous, Gallica, bibliothèque numérique.
of a hill west of the levee.[37] The noise alerted a guard
who shot his musket, thus putting on alert the garrison in an arm, but he and his men managed to retreat be-
of the fort.[37] Saavedra ordered then 100 of his soldiers cause Arpajoux did not want to waste time finishing
and 100 of Velada’s tercio to dug snake-shaped trench- them and advanced towards Fort St. Jean.[42] The retreat
es at the outlet of the channel. The Germans of Rouvroy of the Count was soon noticed by Saavedra. Fearing that
dug his trenches from the hill.[38] When the night was the relief force arrived on time, the Maestro de Campo
dark and it began to rain, Saavedra ordered his 4 pieces sent his aid to ask Thomas of Carignano for permission to
to open fire over the fort. The French garrison respond- assault the fort, which was given.[43]
ed with a heavy musketry fire.[38] An accident occurred The fort was taken by assault by 3 groups of 200 men
when a cannon ball killed a Spaniard and pulled the leg led by Sargento mayor Porcell, Don Diego de Bohorquez
of other one.[38] Saavedra suspended the fire and sent a and Mateo de Torres, and the Sargento mayor of the Reg-
drummer to warn the defenders that if they did not sur- iment Rouvroy.[44] Each group was provided of a scale
render, they would be massacred. The officer in charge of and wood to fill the gap.[44] After receiving orders to
the fort responded that they relied that La Force would take no prisoners and with artillery support, the 3 groups
succor them and that he would give a response to Saave- attacked and climbed the parapets.[45] The man who
dra eight days later.[39] opened the march, Captain de Bohorquez, was wounded
Johann von Nassau-Siegen, meanwhile, found some by a musket shot, but was able to continue commanding
French troops and began to withdraw in disorder.[40] La his soldiers.[45] Sergeant Manuel Mudarra was the first
Force immediately sent his cavalry and some musketeers officer who entered the fort, being followed by de Bo-
under Comte d’Arpajoux to harass the rear-guard of the horquez, Mateo de Torres and Saavedra.[45] The Maestre
Count.[31] The Spanish cavalry was in danger of being dis- de Campo was shot twice, but was almost unscathed.[45]
banded for a moment, but a sleeve of musketeers under An Irish captain and 6 soldiers were also wounded, and
Captain Don Antonio Pimentel, hidden in some hedges, 2 Spaniards and a German died.[45] The French soldiers,
managed to hold back the attack giving time to the Count caught by surprise, could fire scarcely a discharge. 135
to withdraw his troops.[41] Pimentel was badly wounded
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From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Siege of Saint-Omer
were killed, a few managed to escape, and 4 were cap- Vivero, and the other under Piccolomini, who would at-
tured, among them a captain.[46] tack Châtillon’s main fortifications in Saint-Momelin and
La Force’s relief, finding the few men who had es- the fort of Bacq and its nearby redoubts. Most of the com-
caped the assault, stopped.[46] The fort was garrisoned by bined Spanish-Imperial cavalry was dispatched under the
100 soldier under Pedro de Sotomayor while another 300 Count of Nassau-Siegen, Francisco Pardo and the Imper-
remained in the outskirts until the arrival of Paolo Fan- ial General Girolamo Colloredo to prevent La Force from
fanelli in command of Carlo Guasco’s tercio.[46] 200 Ger- joining his troops with Châtillon. Owen Roe O’Neill, with
mans of the Regiment Rouvroy also entered the fort that his own tercio and 3 companies of Wezemaal, would be
day, being relieved the next day by Colonel Rouvroy and embarked at Watten to capture a fort on the bank of the
another 200 soldiers of his regiment.[46] Saavedra and Aa river.
the remaining troops returned to Ruminghem, where the Châtillon, seeing that the extension of the lines of
Maestro de Campo was congratulated by Thomas of circumvallation made it difficult garrison them with the
Carignano and his staff.[46] The following day a skirmish troops that he had, sent Jean de Gassion to request La
occurred near the fort when the troops under Comte Force to enter the lines, which was accepted by La Force,
d’Arpajoux tried to take it by assault. Rejected twice, they who moved his army within the fortifications. He es-
were engaged by a Spanish relief Force of 500 soldiers led corted, moreover, a supply convoy to the camp. The ex-
by Maestre de Campo de Toralto.[47] The battle lasted un- plorers of the contoy reported news of the advance of
til the night, being Toralto’s men relieved by another 500 the Spanish-Imperial cavalry under Count von Nassau-
Spaniards. Arpajoux was forced to retreat having lost, ac- Siegen and General Colloredo, whose strength was put
cording to his enemies, about 800 men dead or wound- in 4,000 men, through the levee of Hennin, near Rumin-
ed.[48] The Spanish lost, according to their own accounts, ghem. Moreover, a French patrol guarding the area be-
27 men dead or wounded.[48] tween Bacq and Du Hallier’s quarter captured two dis-
guised men attempting to reach the Spanish army, prob-
Final relief ably to inform them that the preparations into Saint-
Omer were ready. Châtillon considered then important
to garrison the levee which linked Bacq with Du Hallier’s
quarter, but it had been occupied by the Spanish shortly
before.
Portrait of Ottavio Piccolomini by Matthäus Merian. Owen Roe O’Neill, by J.T. Gilbert.
The relief force would attack divided in two corps, one The French had three forts defending the levee from
of them under the Thomas of Carignano, who would ad- the marshes of Nieuerlet. The strongest had been named
vance through the marshes in command of the Tercio de Niursote and was defended by 600 soldiers, but surren-
Velada, the Tercio de Guasco, that of Saavedra, Fuensal- dered at the first assault by the Tercio of Fuensaldaña
daña, Toralto, the Regiment of Spinola and the Tercios and the Regiment of Spinola, during which two captains
og Tresham and Gage, plues some cavalry under Juan de of Fuensaldaña, Don Pedro de Cepeda and Don Diego de
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From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Siege of Saint-Omer
Velasco, were killed. A second fort, known as Esquenque, ed behind the hedges of Polincove, where the Spanish-
surrendered to Francesco de Toralto, being allowed its Imperial cavalry was disposed for battle. As soon as the
garrison of 600 men to return to their army because the Regiments of Piémont and de la Marine under Compte
lack of ammunitions prevented them to organize a deter- d’Arpajoux had passed the hedges, the Spanish-Imperial
mined resistance. Aware if the loss of the forts, Châtil- cavalry, forming in 12 squadrons, attacked them with
lon sent the Comted’Avaguour in command of 500 men great fierceness. The French infantry hold back the at-
of the Regiment de Navarre and 500 of the Regiment tack and fired a discharge which forced the Count and
de Molandiu to recover them. Fuensaldaña’s musketeers Colloredo to retreat. La Force sent then his cavalry to
and four sleeves of Velada and Saavedra dispatched by break the formation of his enemies and put them to
the Prince rejected the counter-attack inflicting serious flight. The Spanish-Imperial cavalry withdrew through
losses to the French. Marquis de La Barre, Lieutenant- the levee of Hennin. About 900 men were drowned or
General of artillery, and Captain Angerville were killed, captured while attempting to escape. On the French side,
and the Lieutenant-colonel Fontenay-Coup-d’Épée was Sieurs des Roches and Saint-Quentin and the Marquis de
wounded. La Trousse were killed; Sieur de Maroles was wounded,
and the Marquis de Fors was captured. The Imperial com-
mander, General Colloredo, died of his wounds in Fort St.
Jean shortly after.
Piccolomini, meanwhile, had taken a redoubt by as-
sault and was attacking the Church of Saint-Momelin,
and Owen Roe O’Neill had captured the French outpost
in the riverside near Watten, which allowed him to in-
troduce supplies into Saint-Omer with the help of a of-
ficer sent from the town. Châtillon, who had promised
the king Louis XIII to take Saint-Omer, found then neces-
saire prevent the Spanish from capture Bacq by attacking
them in command of all his infantry and cavalry except
a reserve corps of 4,500 infantry and 1,500 cavalry that
would remain in the rear to protect the supplies and the
baggage. This decision was not welcomed by some offi-
cers, but Châtillon was determined to continue the siege,
and his orders were sent to the field officers. The follow-
ing day, however, it was found that Prince Thomas’ po-
sitios were too strong to launch a potentially successful
attack through the marshes, and it was called off. Du Hal-
lier proposed to Châtillon move the artillery and baggage
of Bacq to the Fort du Roi, but the French marshall re-
fused and dispatched a force of 4,000 infantry and cavalry
to guard the passage of Arcq, thus maintaining Bacq con-
nected to the main army.
The Prince of Carignano had finally relieved Saint-
Omer, where he met the Baron of Wezemaal, Lancelot
of Grobbendonk and was informed by Piccolomini’s en-
voy, the Marquis of Gonzaga, that the garrison of Saint
Momelin had offered its surrender, which he accepted.
Thomas, whose main goal was by then to capture the
Fort of Bacq, dispatched that night Colonel Ludovico and
his Croatian cavalry to recognize Châtillon’s maneuvers.
They captured a French convoy coming from Ardres and
Engraving of Alonso Pérez de Vivero y Menchaca, Count of took some prisoners that stated that Châtillon would not
Fuensaldaña, by Jacopus de Man.
lift the siege while he kept Bacq. As Piccolomini hadn’t
managed yet to invest the fort due to the resistance of
Alerted by the proximity of the relief force, La Force
the garrison of Saint-Momelin, the Prince dispatched
put his army in battle, and giving the command of his
over the fort José de Saavedra in command of 1,000 Spa-
right wing to te Comte d’Arpajoux, avdanced to confront
niards and Franceso de Toraldo with 1,000 Italians, Ger-
the Count of Nassau-Siegen and Colloredo. 400 Croatian
mans and English.
riders were found in the field, but they promptly retreat-
9
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Siege of Saint-Omer
[5] ^ Israel p. 71
[6] Parrott, p. 114
[7] ^ Israel, p. 76
[8] Vincart, p. 24
[9] Israel, p. 78
[10] Israel, p. 80
[11] Parrott, p. 127
[12] Israel pp. 80–81
[13] ^ Israel p. 81
[14] Guthrie p. 168
[15] Israel p. 82
[16] Israel p.
[17] ^ De Cevallos, p. 154
[18] ^ De Cevallos, p. 155
[19] ^ Michaud/Poujoulat, p. 67
[20] ^ Michaud/Poujoulat, p. 237
[21] Michaud/Poujoulat, p. 238
[22] ^ De Cevallos, p. 156
[23] ^ De Cevallos, p. 157
[24] ^ De Cevallos, p. 158
[25] ^ De Cevallos, p. 159
[26] ^ Cevallos p. 160
[27] ^ De Cevallos, p. 161
[28] Theatrum Europaeum p. 953
The church of Saint-Momelin. [29] ^ De Cevallos, p. 162
[30] ^ De Cevallos, p. 163
[31] ^ Michaud/Poujoulat, p. 239
Bacq was defended by 2,000 soldier under the Sieur
[32] ^ De Cevallos, p. 164
de Manican, who had been encouraged by Châtillon to
[33] ^ De Cevallos, p. 165
hold back the Spanish in the previous days. Having re-
[34] ^ De Cevallos, p. 166
jected three assaults by Piccolomini, nevertheless, when
[35] De Cevallos, pp. 166–167
the Spanish Tercios jumped into the moat to launch their
[36] ^ De Cevallos, p. 167
assault, he surrendered the fort under the condition of
[37] ^ De Cevallos, p. 168
be safely returned to France, which was accomplished by
[38] ^ De Cevallos, p. 169
the Spanish, who returned him with his troops to Metz,
[39] De Cevallos, p. 170
where he was arrested to be imprisoned at Amiens for
[40] De Cevallos, p. 171
surrender the fort.
[41] De Cevallos, pp. 171–172
[42] De Cevallos, p. 172
Aftermath [43] De Cevallos, pp. 172–173
[44] ^ De Cevallos, p. 173
Despite receiving food from the Spanish, half of the
[45] ^ De Cevallos, p. 174
troops died before reaching Messières. The loss of Bacq
[46] ^ De Cevallos, p. 175
compelled Châtillon to lift the siege. On 17 July the camp
[47] De Cevallos, p. 177
was left and the army retreated to Fervaques. Simultane-
[48] ^ De Cevallos, p. 178
ously, the Spanish soldiers were ordered to return each
one to his tercio, and the following day the army
marched to Térouanne led by the Prince himself, who re- References
viewed the troops before went to Brussels to inform the
• Guthrie, William. The later Thirty Years War: from the
Cardinal-Infante of his success.
Battle of Wittstock to the Treaty of Westphalia
• Parrott, David. Richelieu’s army: war, government, and
Notes society in France, 1624-1642
• PWilson, Peter. The Thirty Years War: Europe’s tragedy.
[1] ^ Guthrie p. 190
• Israel, Jonathan. Conflicts of empires: Spain, the low
[2] ^ Parrott p. 128
countries and the struggle for world supremacy, 1585-1713
[3] ^ Wilson p. 661
• Vincart, Juan Antonio (1842). Relación y Comentario de
[4] ^ Israel p. 70
las armas de S.M. mandadas por el Sermo. D. Fernando,
10
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Siege of Saint-Omer
Infante de España, Lugarthiniente, Gouernador y Capitán pour caractériser chaque auteur des mémoires et son
General de los estados de Flandes y Borgoña, d’esta époque; suivi de l’analyse des documents historiques
campaña de 1636 in Colección de documentos inéditos para qui s’y rapportent, Vol. 5. L’Editeur du commentaire
la historia de España. Madrid Impr. de J. Perales y analytique du code civil.
Martínez [etc.]. http://www.archive.org/details/ http://books.google.com.au/
coleccindedocu59madruoft. books?id=JrlBAAAAYAAJ&ots=aexq-85zxS&pg=PP7#v=onepage.
• (French) Michaud, Joseph Fr.; François Poujoulat, • (Spanish) Lorenzo de Cevallos y Arce. Sucesos de
Jean Joseph (1837). Nouvelle collection des mémoires Flandes en 1637, 38, 39 y 40, por el alférez d. Lorenzo de
pour servir à l’histoire de France: depuis le XIIIe Cevallos y Arce. (17th century)
siècle jusqu’à la fin du XVIIIe; précédés de notices
Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Siege_of_Saint-Omer&oldid=462775369"
Categories:
• Battles of the Thirty Years' War
• Battles involving Spain
• Battles involving France
• Conflicts in 1638
• 1638 in France
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