Siege of Bonn (1703) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Siege of Bonn (1703) |
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| Part of the War of the Spanish Succession | |||||||
 Coehoorn at the Siege of Bonn |
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| Belligerents | |||||||
| Kingdom of France Spain Electorate of Cologne |
Holy Roman Empire Dutch Republic |
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| Commanders and leaders | |||||||
 Yves d'Alègre |
 Menno van Coehoorn Prince of Hesse François Nicolas Fagel |
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| Strength | |||||||
| 10 infantry battalions (3,600 men) | 40 infantry battalions 60 squadrons of cavalry |
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| Casualties and losses | |||||||
| Unknown | Unknown | ||||||
The Siege of Bonn in 1703 was an important military event during the War of the Spanish Succession. During this siege, a group of armies called the Allies surrounded the city of Bonn. They forced the French soldiers defending the city to give up.
The Allied forces were part of a larger army led by John Churchill, 1st Duke of Marlborough. This siege was actually the third time Bonn had been attacked in 30 years. Earlier sieges happened in 1673 and 1689.
Contents
What Was the Siege of Bonn?
The Siege of Bonn took place from April 24 to May 15, 1703. It was a key moment in the War of the Spanish Succession. This war was a big conflict in Europe that lasted for many years. It was fought to decide who would be the next king of Spain.
During the siege, the Allied armies surrounded Bonn. They cut off supplies and attacked the city's defenses. Their goal was to capture Bonn from the French army. The city was important because of its location.
Who Fought in the Siege?
On one side were the Allied forces. These included soldiers from the Holy Roman Empire and the Dutch Republic. Their main commanders were Menno van Coehoorn, the Prince of Hesse, and François Nicolas Fagel. They had a very large army. It included 40 groups of foot soldiers (infantry) and 60 groups of horse soldiers (cavalry).
On the other side were the defenders of Bonn. These were soldiers from the Kingdom of France, Spain, and the Electorate of Cologne. Their commander was Yves d'Alègre. They had a much smaller force, with only 10 groups of foot soldiers.
The Outcome of the Siege
After several weeks of fighting, the Allied forces won. The French soldiers defending Bonn were forced to surrender. This was a victory for the Allies in the War of the Spanish Succession. It helped them gain control of important areas in Europe.
Images for kids
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A map showing the Siege of Bonn in 1703.
