Siege of Mons (1691)

Siege of Mons (1691)
Part of the Nine Years' War
King Louis XIV at the Siege of Mons (1691) Engraving: "soldier killed by a cannon shot behind the king."
Date 15 March–10 April 1691 Location Mons, Spanish Netherlands (Present-day Belgium) Result French victory
Belligerents
France	Spain  Dutch Republic  Holy Roman Empire
Commanders and leaders
King Louis XIV Marquis de Vauban Duc de Boufflers	Marquis of Gastañaga
Strength
92,000 90 guns	~4,800
Casualties and losses
No data	~4,800, mostly prisoners

The Siege of Mons, 15 March–10 April 1691, was a major operation fought during the Nine Years' War, and was the main French objective for the 1691 campaign in the Spanish Netherlands. The city was besieged and captured before the normal commencement of the campaigning season with minimal losses. The outcome was not in doubt, but in a conflict dominated by siege warfare, neither the French army of King Louis XIV, nor the forces of the Grand Alliance under King William III, could bring about a decisive battle. After the siege the duc de Boufflers bombarded the neutral city of Liege, whilst the duc de Luxembourg captured Halle, and scored a minor victory against the Prince of Waldeck at the Battle of Leuze in September. Strategically, however, little had changed in the war, and both combatants returned to winter quarters at the end of the campaigning season.

French forces had secured considerable success in 1690. In July Luxembourg fought and won his tactical masterpiece at the Battle of Fleurus, nullifying any Allied hopes of invading France, whilst at sea, Admiral Tourville defeated an Anglo-Dutch fleet off Beachy Head. In August Catinat had triumphed at the Battle of Staffarda in northern Italy (although his force was too small to gain any strategic advantage). The only bright spot for the Grand Alliance in 1690 was King William’s victory over James II in Ireland at the Battle of the Boyne. Yet despite the battlefield successes, French forces in 1690 had failed to break the coalition ranged against the ambitions of King Louis.

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