Siege of Namur (1792)

The siege of Namur took place from 21 November to 2 December 1792, during the Flanders campaign of the War of the First Coalition. The French Army of the Ardennes under the Count of Valence captured the city which was then part of the Austrian Netherlands.

Siege of Namur
Part of the Flanders campaign in the War of the First Coalition

Capture of the castles of Namur, 2 December 1792
by Clément Boulanger, 1836–1837
Date21 November – 2 December 1792
Location
Result French victory
Belligerents
France France Holy Roman Empire Holy Roman Empire
Commanders and leaders
France Count of Valence
Holy Roman Empire Johann von Moitelle[1]
Strength
35,000 men 2,300 men
Siege of Namur (1792) is located in Europe
Siege of Namur (1792)
Location within Europe

Background

After the Battle of Jemappes, the Count of Valence divided his forces and sent 35,000 men towards the Meuse. A detachment entered Liège on November 28 under the acclamations of the inhabitants; the rest was sent to undertake the siege of Namur.

Due to the proximity of the Austrian army under Johann Peter Beaulieu, Valence devoted this operation to the Army of the Ardennes which would be reinforced by the Harville division. Beaulieu, avoiding battle with the Army of the Ardennes, fell back towards the Aische Forest. Three French brigades encamped around the citadel of Namur awaiting the arrival of their artillery from the Fortress of Charlemont near Givet. The strategist Antoine-Henri Jomini pointed out that by advancing more quickly, Valence could have trapped the entire Austrian army which he did not, allowing Beaulieu and his force to escape.[2]

Battle

On 21 November, the main town opened its doors and surrendered; however the Austrians still held the citadel with 2,300 well-supplied men. The trench was opened on November 27 and the bombardment began using the artillery that arrived from Givet. Under heavy French bombardment, the citadel capitulated on December 2 and Valence took the garrison prisoner.[2]

References

Literature

  • Jomini, Antoine de (1820). Histoire critique et militaire des guerres de la Révolution: Campagne de 1792 (in French). Paris..
Preceded by
Battle of Jemappes
French Revolution: Revolutionary campaigns
Siege of Namur
Succeeded by
War of the First Coalition

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