Siege of Sancerre

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Siege of Sancerre (1572-1573) was an infamous siege of the fortified city of Sancerre in central France during the Wars of Religion where the Huguenot population held out for nearly eight months against the Catholic forces of the king.

Following the St. Bartholomew's Day Massacre many Protestants took refuge in the hilltop stronghold. When the city refused to receive the royal garrison, a surprise attack was ordered by Honorat de Bueil, Seigneur of Racan on November 9, 1572. The city was occupied by the forces of the Seigneur of Racan but the Huguenots, under Mayor Johnanneau and Captain Lafleur, were able to regain control of the fortress after an armed resistance of 17 hours. After massing a large army, Claude de La Chatre, Marshal of France led a full scale offensive against the fortress on March 19, 1573. The arsenal of weapons included bombards, arrows, lances, stones and oil. The siege was one of the last time times in European history where slings (trebuchet), the "Arquebuses of Sancerre", were used in warfare, for the Huguenots lacked bombard artillery. The Catholic forces sustained heavy losses. After the attack failed, a blockade was started. The city suffered terrible famine but held out until August 25, 1573. The siege was documented by a Protestant minister who survived the battle, Jean de Léry, in The Memorable History of the Siege of Sancerre (1574).