Siege of Saint-Dizier facts for kids
The Siege of Saint-Dizier happened in the summer of 1544. It was part of a bigger conflict called the Italian War of 1542–1546. The powerful army of Emperor Charles V attacked the French city of Saint-Dizier. This attack was the start of his plan to move into Champagne, a region in France. The French soldiers inside Saint-Dizier fought bravely for two months. But in the end, the city fell to Emperor Charles V's army.
Why the Siege Happened
In 1543, Emperor Charles V had tried to fight France. But the French army avoided big battles. Instead, the war turned into long, expensive sieges of small forts. For his new plan in 1544, Charles needed more help.
He convinced Henry VIII of England to promise to invade France. Henry VIII said he would bring an army of 35,000 soldiers. Charles also made peace with Denmark. He met with German leaders and got their support or promise to stay neutral. This helped him focus on France.
The Fight for Saint-Dizier
The Imperial army, led by Count William von Fürstenberg, moved towards Saint-Dizier. The town was defended by about 2,000 French soldiers. Their commanders were the Count of Sancerre and Lord of Lalande. The Imperial forces were much larger. Some reports say there were up to 100,000 Imperial soldiers.
Emperor Charles V himself arrived on July 13 with a large part of his army. It included 10,000 foot soldiers, 2,300 horsemen, and 1,600 engineers.
- A Sad Loss*
The very next day, an Imperial commander named René of Châlon, the Prince of Orange, was hit by a shot from the French defenders. He died the following day. Emperor Charles V was by his side. René's titles and lands went to his famous cousin, William the Silent.
On July 23, French outposts near Saint-Dizier were taken over by the Imperial army. The French lost many soldiers. However, a French army led by Henry, the Dauphin (which means the heir to the French throne), stayed nearby. They watched the siege from a place called Jalons.
- The City Falls*
After two months of fighting, the town of Saint-Dizier surrendered on August 17. Emperor Charles V decided not to attack the Dauphin's army. Instead, he continued his advance towards Soissons, another French city.
What Happened Next
If Henry VIII's army had been as quick as Charles V's, France would have been in big trouble. Henry VIII arrived in Calais, France, on July 15 with most of his army. He then joined forces with soldiers from the Netherlands.
Henry VIII sent part of his army to besiege Montreuil. He took his main force to besiege Boulogne. Meanwhile, Charles V was running out of resources. He was also having problems with the Pope.
- Peace is Made*
Charles V saw that it was a good time to make peace. So, the Peace of Crépy was signed on September 18, 1544. Henry VIII was told about the peace terms. He didn't like them, but he had to accept them. He was able to keep Boulogne, which surrendered on September 14.
As part of the peace treaty, both sides had to give back land they had taken since an earlier truce. The King of France, Francis, had to give up his claims to Naples, Flanders, and Artois. Emperor Charles V did not insist on getting back the duchy of Burgundy. Both leaders also agreed to work together to unite the Church and fight against the Ottoman Turks.
