Siege of Luxembourg (1684)

Siege of Luxembourg
Part of War of the Reunions
Military plan for the Siege of Luxembourg.
Date 27 April - 7 June 1684 Location Luxembourg, Spanish Netherlands Result French victory
Belligerents
Kingdom of France	Spanish Empire
Commanders and leaders
François de Créquy Marquis de Vauban	Prince de Chimay
Strength
20,000 men 7,000 horses 82 guns 21 mortars	4,090 600 horses 600 city's militia
Casualties and losses
8,000	2,700

The Siege of Luxembourg, in which Louis XIV of France (husband of Maria Theresa of Spain) laid siege to the Spanish-controlled Fortress of Luxembourg from 27 April to 7 June 1684, was the most significant confrontation between France and Spain of the War of the Reunions. The action caused alarm among France's neighbours and resulted in the formation of the League of Augsburg in 1686. In the ensuing war France was forced to give up the duchy, which was returned to the Habsburgs by the Treaty of Ryswick in 1697.

An important element of Louis XIV's policy of reunion was to the gain the strategically important city of Luxembourg, which was under Spanish rule, but belonged de jure to the Holy Roman Empire. The city had been besieged in 1681-1682, and the inhabitants endured great hardship. This attempt was broken off, but the country was occupied.

Louis started the War of the Reunions especially to conquer Luxembourg in 1683. In December of that year, Luxembourg was bombarded with mortars. About 6,000 bombs and grenades were fired.

The Fortress of Luxembourg did not, in those days, have modern fortifications, but was instead protected by its geographic location. Unlike the city, much of which was destroyed by the previous year's bombardment, the defensive works were in good condition.

In January 1684, the French Marshal François de Créquy succeeded in cutting Luxembourg off from the main Spanish army. An army of 20,000 was posted between Brussels and Luxembourg, in order to distract the enemy troops from the actual objective.Sébastien Le Prestre de Vauban was in command of the siege of Luxembourg.

The French troops numbered 25,000 men, and had more than 70 guns. Their forces included a group of 40 military engineers. The Spanish troops in the city were commanded by the Prince de Chimay and the Comte de Tille. They included about 4,090 men and 600 horses. They were complemented by 600 residents, who had volunteered. The city and fortress lacked provisions and ammunition.

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