Siege of Fort-Louis (1793) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Siege of Fort-Louis (1793)
Part of War of the First Coalition
Map of Fort-Louis by Cassini (1756–1815)
Date 14 October – 14 November 1793 Location Fort-Louis, Bas-Rhin, France Result Coalition victory
Belligerents
Habsburg Austria Hesse-Darmstadt Electorate of Bavaria	Republican France
Commanders and leaders
Franz von Lauer	Michel Durand
Strength
4,700, 55 guns	4,500, 111 guns
Casualties and losses
unknown	4,500, 5 colors

The Siege of Fort-Louis was an important battle that happened between October 14 and November 14, 1793. During this time, soldiers from Austria, Hesse, and Bavaria surrounded the French fortress of Fort-Louis. They were led by a general named Franz von Lauer.

Inside the fort, French soldiers defended it under the command of Michel Durand. The French fought for exactly one month before they had to give up. This siege was part of the War of the First Coalition, which was a bigger conflict during the French Revolutionary Wars. Back in 1793, Fort-Louis was a fortress on an island in the Rhine River. Today, Fort-Louis is a small village in France.

The Siege of Fort-Louis: What Happened?

This section explains how the battle for Fort-Louis unfolded. It covers the soldiers involved and their equipment.

Who Defended Fort-Louis?

The French soldiers defending Fort-Louis were called the garrison. They had about 4,500 soldiers. Their commander was General of Brigade Michel Durand.

• Soldiers: The garrison included different groups of soldiers. These were the 1st Battalions of the 4th Light, 37th Line, and 40th Line Infantry Demi Brigades. They also had the Strasbourg Volunteers. Other groups included the 3rd Battalions of the Gard and Saône-et-Loire Volunteers. Finally, the 12th Battalion of the Vosges Volunteers was also there.
• Cannons: Fort-Louis was well-armed. It had 111 artillery pieces, which are large cannons. These cannons were important for defending the fort.
• Defense Expert: A person named Dominique-André de Chambarlhac helped manage the technical parts of the fort's defense. He made sure the fort's defenses worked well.

Who Attacked Fort-Louis?

The attacking force was led by General-major Franz von Lauer. This group had about 4,700 soldiers. They also brought many cannons to help them attack the fort.

• Attacking Soldiers: The attacking army included soldiers from several different places. There were three battalions from the Combined Bavarian Regiment. One battalion came from the Hessian Leib Regiment. There was also the Hessian Leib Grenadier Battalion. An Austrian battalion from an unknown regiment was present. Finally, two squadrons of the Szekler Hussar Regiment joined the attack.
• Siege Cannons: The attackers brought 55 cannons with them. These cannons were part of their "siege train." A siege train is a collection of heavy cannons used to break down fortress walls.