Crossing of the Somme facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Crossing of the Somme
Part of the Thirty Years' War and the Franco-Spanish War (1635–59)
Crossing of the Somme, 1636. Oil on canvas by Peter Snayers.
Date 5 August 1636 Location Bray-sur-Somme, Picardy, France Result Spanish-Imperial victory
Belligerents
France	Spain  Holy Roman Empire
Commanders and leaders
Louis, Count of Soissons	Cardinal-Infante Ferdinand Prince of Carignano Ottavio Piccolomini
Strength
14,000	18,000–25,000
Casualties and losses
700-800 soldiers killed + 13 captains 14 lieutenants 16 corporals	35 killed and 50 wounded (reported)

The Crossing of the Somme was an important battle that happened on August 5, 1636. It was part of two bigger wars: the Thirty Years' War and the Franco-Spanish War. In this battle, armies from Spain and the Holy Roman Empire crossed the Somme river in France. They were led by Thomas Francis, Prince of Carignano, who was working for Cardinal-Infante Ferdinand of Austria. Even though the French army, led by Louis de Bourbon, Count of Soissons, fought hard, the Spanish and Imperial troops succeeded. They pushed the French back and later captured the important fortress of Corbie. This caused a lot of worry in Paris, the capital of France.

Why the Somme Crossing Happened

France Declares War

In May 1635, France declared war on Spain. French armies, helped by the Dutch States Army, invaded the Spanish Netherlands. They tried to capture Brussels and then Leuven. But their attack failed because they had problems with supplies and organization. Many French soldiers also got sick with the plague.

Spain Fights Back

Cardinal-Infante Ferdinand, who governed the Spanish Netherlands, fought back. He pushed the French and Dutch invaders out. Spain then focused on fighting the Dutch. Even when the Dutch recaptured a key fortress, Spain's leader, the Count-Duke of Olivares, wanted to keep fighting the Dutch.

France's Other Battles

French armies also faced defeats in other areas like the Rhine and Lorraine. Their main goal became defending and winning back important places in these regions. Taking over Franche-Comté became a top priority for Cardinal Richelieu, France's chief minister.

A Joint Invasion Plan

Meanwhile, the Holy Roman Emperor, Ferdinand II, planned to invade eastern France. He faced some problems with supplies and money. So, he suggested a joint invasion with the Cardinal-Infante. Both Philip IV of Spain and Olivares quickly agreed to this plan.

The Invasion Begins

An army of 18,000 soldiers, including troops from the Holy Roman Empire, gathered in June. On July 4, the Cardinal-Infante crossed into France. He quickly captured the strong fortresses of Le Catelet and La Capelle. These forts surrendered very quickly, partly because the Spanish used new exploding shells. This fast advance worried Louis XIII, the King of France. He rushed back to Paris. By this time, the Cardinal-Infante had given command of his army to Prince Thomas Francis of Carignano.

The Battle at the Somme River

Setting the Stage

Prince Carignano took command and headed towards Saint Quentin. His goal was to draw Louis de Bourbon, Count of Soissons and his 14,000 French soldiers to the town. But when he reached Saint Quentin, the Prince changed his plan. He decided to march his army towards the Somme river. The Cardinal-Infante sent a message telling him to cross the Somme at Bray-sur-Somme or another easy spot, even if the French were guarding it. Boats and pontoons (floating bridges) were sent to help.

First Skirmishes

On August 4, the Prince's troops took over a small island in the middle of the river. A small fight, called a skirmish, began with French soldiers on the other side. The Count of Soissons, who was nearby, thought the Spanish would try to cross there. He sent his troops to the riverside to stop any attempts. The Marquis of Fontenay, leading these French troops, set fire to the village and dug in his soldiers in forts along the river. The fighting continued for a long time with cannons and muskets. The French reported about 20 of their soldiers were killed.

The Main Crossing

The Prince then ordered his Spanish troops to march to the village of Cerisy, south of Bray. They were to cross the river there. Only one French regiment, the Régiment de Piedmont, was at Cerisy to stop them. The Spanish soldiers formed up at the riverside. A fierce fight lasted for three hours.

The Spanish commander, Alonso Pérez de Vivero y Menchaca, ordered his soldiers to dig trenches for protection. Spanish cannons and musketeers fired into the forest where the French Régiment de Piedmont had taken cover. This forced the few remaining French soldiers to retreat. They left behind about 700-800 dead. The Prince's army lost around 35 soldiers killed and 50 wounded. The French losses might have been even higher if the Spanish cavalry had crossed the river in time to chase them. But they didn't, so Soissons was able to pull his troops back in good order.

What Happened Next

Chasing the French Army

After the battle, Prince Carignano wanted to completely defeat the retreating French army. He sent Ottavio Piccolomini with his cavalry and Johann von Werth with the Spanish cavalry to chase the Count of Soissons. Soissons was forced to cross the Oise river. The constant attacks from the German and Spanish cavalry weakened the French army. The Imperial-Spanish troops found abandoned bodies and weapons as they advanced.

Piccolomini chased the French army all the way to Roye, which he captured. From there, he reached Compiègne and went even deeper into French territory. This caused a lot of fear in Paris. Meanwhile, Soissons retreated to Noyon, still being chased by Johann von Werth. Werth's Bavarian troops destroyed 5 French cavalry regiments near Noyon. However, he didn't have enough soldiers to try and capture the town itself.

Capturing Corbie and Retreat

On August 7, Prince Carignano, following orders, surrounded the very important fortress of Corbie. It surrendered to him a week later. The next day, King Louis XIII wrote to the Prince of Condé telling him to stop his siege of Dôle and leave Franche-Comté. He needed Condé's help to defend Paris. People at the French court believed that after Corbie, the Spanish would advance even further into France. Piccolomini wanted to do this and tried to convince the Cardinal-Infante.

However, the Cardinal-Infante felt that pushing further might put his army at risk. So, he decided to retreat. He was back in Cambrai by early September. After this, the French armies managed to win back most of the land they had lost in the following months.