Siege of Ypres (1678) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Siege of Ypres |
|||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Part of the Franco-Dutch War | |||||||
 |
|||||||
|
|||||||
| Belligerents | |||||||
 France |
 United Provinces Spain |
||||||
| Commanders and leaders | |||||||
| Louis XIV Vauban |
Dom Francisco de Pardo | ||||||
| Strength | |||||||
| Unknown | Unknown | ||||||
| Casualties and losses | |||||||
| Unknown | Unknown number of casualties 2,200 surrendered |
||||||
The Siege of Ypres was a short but important battle that happened in 1678. It was part of a bigger conflict called the Franco-Dutch War. During this siege, the French army captured the city of Ypres, which was then part of the Spanish Netherlands (today, it's in Belgium). The siege lasted only one week, from March 18 to March 25, 1678.
Contents
Why Ypres Was Attacked
Before the siege, there were big changes happening in Europe. In 1677, Mary Stuart of England married William III of Orange, who was a leader of the Dutch Republic. This marriage helped bring England and the Dutch Republic closer together. They had been enemies in a war until 1674.
King Louis XIV of France was worried about this new alliance. He thought England might join the war against him. To get ahead, he decided to invade the Spanish Netherlands. This area was controlled by Spain and was close to France.
A Surprise Attack
The Dutch army thought King Louis XIV would attack the city of Namur. But Louis XIV had a different plan. He secretly moved his troops towards Ghent. His army captured Ghent on March 9, 1678. Right after that, he quickly turned his army west and headed straight for Ypres. This surprise move caught his enemies off guard.
The Siege of Ypres
On March 18, 1678, the French army arrived at Ypres. They were led by a famous military engineer named Vauban. Vauban was known for his amazing skills in building and attacking forts.
French Tactics
The French soldiers immediately started digging long, deep trenches. These trenches allowed them to get closer to the city's walls safely. The city of Ypres was defended by a Spanish army led by Dom Francisco de Pardo. He tried to stop the French by flooding the areas around the city. However, the French had already advanced too far for this to work.
The French army then began to bombard Ypres. They used 22 large cannons and 12 mortars. These powerful weapons fired heavy shells at the city's defenses.
The Final Attack
After just one week of constant shelling and digging, the French trenches were very close to the city. King Louis XIV decided it was time for a final attack. In the night of March 24–25, the French soldiers stormed the city. Ypres was quickly taken.
By dawn, the defenders of the city surrendered. Only the citadel, a strong fortress inside the city, held out for one more day. Finally, the remaining 1,600 healthy soldiers and 600 wounded soldiers in the citadel also gave up. The French had won the siege.
What Happened Next
After capturing Ypres, Vauban immediately started working to make the city's defenses even stronger. He rebuilt and updated the fortifications. Many of these new defenses can still be seen in Ypres today. Louis de Crevant, Duke of Humières was made the new governor of the city.
Meanwhile, in England, King Charles II started gathering soldiers. He raised about 20 regiments, planning to send them to Ostend. But he wasn't sure if he really wanted to go to war with France. At the same time, France and the Dutch Republic began talking about peace. These talks led to the Treaty of Nijmegen, which was signed on August 10, 1678. This treaty officially ended the Franco-Dutch War.
