Siege of Luxembourg (1794–1795)

Siege of Luxembourg
Part of the French Revolutionary Wars
Date 22 November 1794 – 7 June 1795
Location Luxembourg City, Southern Netherlands (present-day Luxembourg)
Result French victory
Belligerents
French First Republic Habsburg Austria

The siege of Luxembourg was a siege by France of the Habsburg-held fortress of Luxembourg City 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.[1]

Luxembourg's long defence led Lazare Carnot to call Luxembourg "the best [fortress] in the world, except Gibraltar",[1] 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.[1] 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.[2]

Footnotes

  1. ^ a b c Kreins (2003), p.64
  2. ^ Kreins (2003), p.64–5

References