Siege of Mainz (1792) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Siege of Mainz |
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| Part of the War of the First Coalition | |||||||||
 The siege of Mainz, by Georg Melchior Kraus. |
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| Belligerents | |||||||||
 France |
 Electorate of Mainz |
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| Commanders and leaders | |||||||||
| Adam Philippe |
Franz von Albini |
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| Units involved | |||||||||
| Army of the Rhine | Volunteers | ||||||||
| Strength | |||||||||
| 13,000 | 5,000 | ||||||||
The Siege of Mainz was a quick battle at the start of the War of the First Coalition. The French army, led by General Custine, took control of the city on October 21, 1792. It only took three days! The French then occupied Mainz and tried to set up a new government called the Republic of Mainz.
France declared war on Archduchy of Austria in 1792. They also declared war on Mainz on July 21, 1792. General Custine took over the Army of the Rhine. In September, his army moved into the southern Rhineland. They took over cities like Speyer and Worms. The soldiers from the Duchy of Nassau left the Fortress of Mainz on October 5.
Why the Siege Happened
After the French Revolution in 1789, the leader of Mainz, Friedrich Karl Joseph von Erthal, became a strong opponent of the revolution. He welcomed many French nobles who were fleeing the unrest in France. This made Mainz a key place for those who were against the revolution in Europe.
France declared war on the Austrian Archduke Francis II on April 20, 1792. People in Mainz who were against the revolution gathered in July. They promised to defeat the French revolutionaries. They wanted to punish them severely.
However, the French King Louis XVI tried to escape but was caught. This led to his arrest. So, on August 4, 1792, the leader of Mainz joined forces with Austria and Prussia.
But the plan by Austria and Prussia to invade France failed. They were defeated at the Battle of Valmy on September 20. After this, the French Revolutionary Army went on the attack. They crossed the Rhine River, aiming to capture Mainz.
How the Siege Unfolded
On September 29 and 30, 1792, General Custine's army captured the city of Speyer. Custine had replaced Nicolas Luckner as the head of the Army of the Rhine. The French could not hold Speyer for long. They moved back to Worms four days later.
In Mainz, people started to panic. The soldiers from the Duke of Nassau left the fortress on October 5. Rich people, bishops, nobles, and their servants quickly fled the city. It's thought that about a quarter to a third of the 25,000 residents ran away. The remaining people said they were ready to defend the city's damaged walls. They had 5,000 volunteers. This was not enough to protect the city's large defenses.
The French troops were now called the "Army of the Vosges." They began to surround and besiege Mainz on October 18. On the night of October 18, the first group of soldiers, led by General Jean Nicolas Houchard, reached Weisenau.
"On the 19th, the army arrived near Mainz and surrounded the city. Our right side was in the village of Hechtsheim, and the Rhine River was on our left. We took over Bretzenheim, Zahlbach, the mill, and the high ground of Gonsenheim and the edge of Mombach woods. Our main camp was set up at Marienborn. One of our groups from Zahlbach marched close enough to the city for cannons to reach. The Mainz troops, who were in the outer defenses, fired and wounded a few of our men. After this, our howitzer cannons started firing at Fort Hauptstein and the main part of the city. But they were only field guns. The walls around Mainz are very big, so we quickly realized we couldn't wear down the city using small shells. The engineer commander Clémencey suggested using hot cannonballs. But Custine just laughed. He said he would take the city without needing to set it on fire."
The news spread that 13,000 French soldiers were surrounding the city. The war council, led by Count Gymnich, was very scared. Gymnich called a meeting of civilian and military leaders. The Prussian Minister, Baron of Stein, was there. Also present were Baron Fechenbach, a church leader, Baron von Franz Joseph Albini, a court official, and M. de Kalckhoff, a private advisor to the Prince Archbishop.
These three church officials argued that Mainz should be defended. But the governor, the Prussian Minister, and other leaders disagreed. In a final meeting with military commanders, the council decided to surrender. They chose to give up without a fight on October 20. On October 21, the French entered the city. This happened despite its strong defenses, which were supposed to protect it.
This day marked a big change in how France and the Holy Roman Empire would get along. 20,000 French soldiers occupied the city. This was more than the original population. The French tried to convince people about the good things the Revolution offered. However, the people were more worried about daily problems. It was hard to feed such a large group of soldiers.
General Custine stayed at the Castle of the Prince Electors. He gave many orders to protect the university and the archbishop's buildings. Because of this, many citizens of Mainz saw the French not as invaders, but as people who were setting them free. Franz Konrad Macke served as the mayor from February to July 1793.
Here is what one German, who liked the French arrival, said:
"Finally, our people started to break free and gain human dignity. Soon we will be free. A few days before the French attacked our city, I already felt great joy. Freedom and equality finally won in Mainz! The French finally arrived to remove our harsh rulers. The first of them was our prince-bishop, who had fled a few days earlier. I admit that I am delighted to see the immense despair that gripped our noble lords. They panicked as the French approached. They piled up everything they could carry and fled the city."
