Siege of Bonn (1689) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Siege of Bonn |
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| Part of Nine Years' War | |||||||||
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| Belligerents | |||||||||
 Brandenburg-Prussia Dutch Republic |
 FranceCologne |
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| Commanders and leaders | |||||||||
Frederick III Hans Adam von Schöning Adriaan van Flodroff |
Alexis Bidal Marquis d'Asfeld (DOW) | ||||||||
| Strength | |||||||||
| 30,000 100 guns 46 mortars 4 howitzers |
8,000 | ||||||||
| Casualties and losses | |||||||||
| 4,000 | 6,500 killed, wounded and sick | ||||||||
The Siege of Bonn happened in 1689. It was a major event during the Nine Years' War. During this siege, armies from Brandenburg-Prussia and the Dutch Republic surrounded and captured the city of Bonn.
This battle was part of a larger fight in the Rhineland area. Brandenburg was fighting as part of a group called the Grand Alliance. This alliance was formed to stop Louis XIV of France from becoming too powerful.
Contents
Why the Siege Happened
In the year before the siege, King Louis XIV of France had sent his armies into the Rhineland. This made many countries worried about France's power. So, a group of nations decided to work together to stop France. This group was known as the Grand Alliance.
France's Allies
In Germany, the Grand Alliance decided to attack the lands of France's allies. One of these allies was the Electorate of Cologne. Bonn was a very important city in Cologne.
War on Two Fronts
At the same time, two large armies were moving against each other in the west. These armies were led by Prince Georg Friedrich of Waldeck for the Allies and Louis de Crevant, Duke of Humières for France. Waldeck was the main commander for the Allies. He wanted to wait for more soldiers before attacking the French.
However, the Brandenburg forces focused on their own plans in Cologne. They wanted to take control of key cities there.
The Road to Bonn
In June 1689, the Brandenburg army captured a city called Kaiserswerth. After this, Bonn was the only big city in Cologne that was not under Allied control. Bonn was already being watched closely, and a blockade had been set up around it. This meant that supplies could not easily get into the city.
Capturing a Key Fort
On July 11, the Allied commanders, Hans Adam von Schöning and Adriaan van Flodroff, took an important fort near Bonn. This fort was crucial for controlling the area around the city.
The Main Army Arrives
Eleven days later, the main Allied army arrived outside Bonn. They began setting up their cannons. On July 24, these cannons started firing at the city. However, the full siege, where the armies completely surrounded and attacked the city walls, did not officially begin until September 16.
The Siege and Its End
The siege lasted for several weeks. The Allied forces kept up a very strong attack on Bonn. They fired many cannonballs and bombs at the city. This heavy bombing caused a lot of damage. Much of Bonn was left in ruins because of the constant attacks.
Surrender of Bonn
Finally, on October 12, the soldiers defending Bonn surrendered. This meant they gave up the city to the Allied forces. The capture of Bonn was a big victory for the Grand Alliance in the Nine Years' War.
Bonn's Later Sieges
Bonn was an important city, and it faced another siege later on. In 1703, during the War of the Spanish Succession, Bonn was again attacked and besieged.
