Siege of Luxembourg (1794–95)

Siege of Luxembourg
Part of the French Revolutionary Wars
Siège de Luxembourg 1794-1795 by Charles Caïus RENOUX
Date 22 November 1794 – 7 June 1795 Location Luxembourg City, Southern Netherlands (present-day Luxembourg) 49°36′40″N 6°07′59″E / 49.611°N 6.133°E / 49.611; 6.133Coordinates: 49°36′40″N 6°07′59″E / 49.611°N 6.133°E / 49.611; 6.133 Result French victory
Belligerents
French First Republic	Habsburg Austria
Commanders and leaders
Jean René Moreaux Jean-Jacques Ambert Jacques Maurice Hatry	Johann von Bender
Strength
25,500 to 39,000	15,000
Casualties and losses
unknown	1,200 casualties 12,396, 819 guns captured

The siege of Luxembourg was a siege by France of the Habsburg-held Fortress of Luxembourg that lasted from 1794 until 7 June 1795, during the French Revolutionary Wars. Although the French army failed to breach the walls of the city, which were renowned as amongst the best in the world, the fortress was forced to surrender after more than seven months.

Luxembourg's long defence led Lazare Carnot to call Luxembourg "the best [fortress] in the world, except Gibraltar", giving rise to the city's nickname 'the Gibraltar of the North'.

The result of the capture of Luxembourg was the annexation of the Southern Netherlands into France on 1 October 1795. Most of Luxembourg (including all of the modern Grand Duchy), became a part of the département of Forêts, which was created on 24 October 1795.

After taking Rheinfels Castle, the French were masters of the left bank of the Rhine, with the exception of the fortresses of Mainz and Luxembourg. The Committee of Public Safety therefore ordered that both of these should be conquered.

The Army of the Rhine, commanded by General Claude Ignace François Michaud, attacked Mainz, while the Army of the Moselle under Jean René Moreaux dealt with Luxembourg. The French were particularly eager to take this city as they were hoping to find large stocks of provisions and war materials, which they were lacking.

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