Siege of La Rochelle

Siege of La Rochelle (1627–1628); Siège de La Rochelle (1627–1628)
	Part of the Huguenot rebellions and the Anglo-French War (1627–1629)
	; Cardinal Richelieu on the Sea Wall of La Rochelle at the time of the siege, 1881 depiction by Henri-Paul Motte
Date	10 September 1627 – 28 October 1628
Location	La Rochelle46°10′00″N 1°09′00″W / 46.1667°N 1.1500°W
Result	Royalist victory
Belligerents
Kingdom of France; Spanish Empire	La Rochelle; Huguenots; Kingdom of England
Commanders and leaders
Louis XIII; Cardinal Richelieu (siege commander); Toiras (Governor of Île de Ré); Bassompierre	Jean Guiton (mayor); Soubise (commander); Duke of Buckingham (commander)
Strength
Siege army: 22,001; Toiras: 1,200 alongside 30-40 Spanish ships	La Rochelle: 27,000 civilians and soldiers; Buckingham: 80 ships, 7,000 soldiers
Casualties and losses
Siege army: Unknown; Toiras: 500 killed	La Rochelle: 22,000 killed; Buckingham: 5,000 killed

The siege of La Rochelle (French: le siège de La Rochelle, or sometimes le grand siège de La Rochelle) was a result of a war between the French royal forces of Louis XIII of France and the Huguenots of La Rochelle in 1627–1628. The siege marked the height of the struggle between the Catholics and the Protestants in France, and ended with a complete victory for King Louis XIII and the Catholics.

Background

The 1598 Edict of Nantes that ended the French Wars of Religion granted Protestants, commonly known as Huguenots, a large degree of autonomy and self-rule. La Rochelle was the centre of Huguenot seapower, and a key point of resistance against the Catholic royal government.^[1]

The assassination of Henry IV of France in 1610 led to the appointment of Marie de' Medici as regent for her nine-year-old son, Louis XIII. Her removal in 1617 caused a series of revolts by powerful regional nobles, both Catholic and Protestant, while religious tensions were heightened by the outbreak of the 1618 to 1648 Thirty Years War. In 1621, Louis re-established Catholicism in the formerly Huguenot region of Béarn, resulting in an uprising led by Henri de Rohan and his brother Soubise.^[2]

Despite the royalist capture of Saint-Jean d'Angély, a blockade of La Rochelle was unsuccessful and the revolt ended in stalemate with the October 1622 Treaty of Montpellier. Taking La Rochelle was a priority for Louis and his chief minister Cardinal Richelieu; it was then the second- or third-largest city in France, with over 30,000 inhabitants, and one of its most important ports. In addition to the customs duties generated by imports, it was also among the biggest producers of salt, a major source of taxes for the state; this made it economically crucial.^[3]

Defeating Rohan and taking possession of La Rochelle were both essential for Richelieu's policy of centralisation, but since the French Crown did not have a navy strong enough to capture it, he asked England for help. When James I refused, he approached the Dutch Republic. The Huguenots were supported by Spain, who the Protestant Dutch were then fighting for their independence; in return for French subsidies, the Dutch agreed to provide naval backing in the 1624 Treaty of Compiègne.^[4]

English intervention

The Anglo-French conflict followed the failure of their alliance of 1624, in which England had tried to find an ally in France against the power of the Habsburgs. In 1626, France under Richelieu concluded a secret peace with Spain, and disputes arose around Henrietta Maria's household. Furthermore, France was building the power of its navy, leading the English to be convinced that France must be opposed "for reasons of state".^[5]

In June 1626, Walter Montagu was sent to France to contact dissident noblemen, and from March 1627 attempted to organize a French rebellion. The plan was to send an English fleet to encourage rebellion, triggering a new Huguenot revolt by Duke Henri de Rohan and his brother Soubise.^[5]

First La Rochelle expedition

Left image: Landing of Buckingham in Sablanceau (detail).
Right image: English forces in the siege of Saint-Martin-de-Ré.

On the first expedition, King Charles I sent a fleet of over 100 ships, under his favourite George Villiers, 1st Duke of Buckingham, to encourage a major rebellion in La Rochelle. In June 1627, Buckingham organised a landing on the nearby island of Île de Ré with 6,000 men in order to help the Huguenots, thus starting the Anglo-French War of 1627, with the objectives being to control the approaches to La Rochelle and to encourage the rebellion in the city.

The city of La Rochelle initially refused to declare itself an ally of Buckingham against the crown of France and effectively denied access to its harbour to Buckingham's fleet. An open alliance would be declared only in September, during the first fights between La Rochelle and royal troops.

Although it was a Protestant stronghold, Île de Ré had not directly joined the rebellion against the king. On Île de Ré, the English under Buckingham tried to take the fortified city of Saint-Martin in the siege of Saint-Martin-de-Ré (1627) but were repulsed after three months. Small French royal boats managed to supply St Martin in spite of the English blockade. Buckingham ultimately ran out of money and support, and his army was weakened by disease. After a last attack on Saint-Martin, they were repulsed with heavy casualties and left with their ships.

Siege

Meanwhile, in August 1627 French royal forces started to surround La Rochelle, with an army of 7,000 soldiers, 600 horses, and 24 cannons, led by Charles of Angoulême. They started to reinforce fortifications at Bongraine (modern Les Minimes), and at the Fort Louis.

On September 10, the first cannon shots were fired by La Rochelle against royal troops at Fort Louis, starting the third Huguenot rebellion. La Rochelle was the greatest stronghold among the Huguenot cities of France, and the centre of Huguenot resistance. Cardinal Richelieu acted as commander of the besiegers when the King was absent.

Once hostilities started, French engineers isolated the city with entrenchments 12 kilometers (7.5 mi) long, fortified by 11 forts and 18 redoubts. The surrounding fortifications were completed in April 1628, manned with an army of 30,000.

Four thousand workmen also built a 1,400 meters (0.9 mi) long seawall to block the seaward access between the city and harbor, stopping all supplies. The initial idea for blocking the channel came from the Italian engineer Pompeo Targone, but his structure was broken by winter weather, before the idea was taken up by the royal architect Clément Métezeau in November 1627. The wall was built on a foundation of sunken hulks filled with rubble. French artillery battered English ships trying to supply the city.^[6]

Meanwhile, in southern France, Henri de Rohan vainly attempted to raise a rebellion to relieve La Rochelle. Until February, some ships were able to go through the seawall under construction, but after March this became impossible. The city was completely blockaded, with the only hope coming from possible intervention by an English fleet.

Louis XIII (1601-1643) – The "Reluctant King" Who he was: Louis XIII was King of France from 1610 until his death in 1643. He became king at the age of 9 after the assassination of his father, Henry IV. Since he was a child, his mother, Marie de Medici, served as regent during his early years. Louis XIII wasn’t particularly known for his strength of character or leadership abilities. He was often overshadowed by his chief minister, Cardinal Richelieu, who became the real power behind the throne. What he did: Louis XIII’s reign was marked by a consolidation of royal power. During his early years, France was deeply divided by civil wars, the Wars of Religion (Catholics vs. Huguenots), and factional conflicts at court. While he wasn’t an overly ambitious ruler, Louis XIII played a crucial role in maintaining the monarchy and ensuring France’s political stability. Challenges & accomplishments: Wars of Religion: France was still dealing with tensions between Catholics and Protestants (Huguenots) when Louis XIII took the throne. His rule helped bring an end to the religious wars, most notably by dealing decisively with the Huguenot strongholds, such as the Siege of La Rochelle (1627-1628). Centralizing Power: Louis XIII didn’t personally have the energy or focus to manage all of France’s problems, so he relied heavily on Cardinal Richelieu to centralize the monarchy and bring order to a fractured country. Cardinal Richelieu (1585-1642) – The Power Behind the Throne Who he was: Armand-Jean du Plessis de Richelieu, known as Cardinal Richelieu, was a clergyman and politician who served as Louis XIII’s chief minister from 1624 until his death in 1642. He was appointed as Louis XIII’s chief advisor in 1624, and his influence over the king grew rapidly, making him effectively the ruler of France. Richelieu was one of the most powerful ministers in European history and a master of statecraft. What he did: Strengthening Royal Authority: Richelieu’s main goal was to centralize power in the French monarchy. He worked tirelessly to reduce the power of nobles and independent political groups (like the Huguenots) that could challenge the king’s authority. Politique: Richelieu was a “politique,” meaning he believed in putting the stability and power of the state above religious differences. This is why he supported harsh measures against both Huguenots (Protestants) and the Catholic nobility when they posed a threat to royal authority. The Huguenots: Richelieu’s role in the Siege of La Rochelle was crucial. The city was a major Protestant stronghold, and Richelieu's military action against it effectively ended Protestant political independence in France (though they retained religious freedom). Foreign Policy: Richelieu was also heavily involved in foreign policy, aiming to make France the dominant power in Europe. He entered the Thirty Years' War (1618-1648) on the side of the Protestant states (even though France was a Catholic nation) in order to weaken the Habsburgs (both Spanish and Austrian branches), who were France’s main rivals. Building the State Bureaucracy: He established a stronger central bureaucracy, reducing the influence of feudal lords and building a more professional army and efficient taxation system. This laid the foundation for absolute monarchy in France, which would be fully realized under Louis XIV. Why are they tied together? Louis XIII and Cardinal Richelieu are often mentioned in the same breath because Richelieu was the de facto ruler of France during much of Louis XIII's reign. Although Louis XIII was technically the king, Richelieu’s influence over the state was so extensive that he overshadowed the monarch. Richelieu was appointed by Louis XIII to be his chief minister, and his vision of a strong centralized monarchy was one that the king supported, even if he wasn’t always the one making the decisions. Richelieu’s policies helped solidify the power of the monarchy, creating the conditions for the absolute monarchy of Louis XIV (Louis XIII’s son) to flourish. Louis XIII, though not weak, was dependent on Richelieu for advice and action on most political matters. He gave Richelieu wide latitude in making decisions, especially in matters of domestic policy and foreign affairs. Louis XIII's reign was defined by Richelieu's leadership in the background. Richelieu's centralization policies, foreign alliances, and religious policies were carried out in the name of the monarchy. Key Themes in Their Partnership Centralization of Power: Richelieu's policies were all about centralizing control in the hands of the king. He curbed the influence of the nobility and any other groups that might challenge royal authority. This laid the groundwork for absolute monarchy in France, a system that Louis XIV would perfect after Louis XIII’s death. Political and Religious Control: Richelieu believed that religion should serve the needs of the state. His actions often went against religious factions if they posed a political threat to the king's power—such as suppressing the Huguenots and the Catholic nobles who were against the crown. Foreign Policy: Richelieu worked to undermine the power of the Habsburgs (Spain and Austria) because they were a threat to France's dominance in Europe. This entailed supporting Protestant forces during the Thirty Years' War, despite France being a Catholic nation. His diplomatic strategy was about balancing power and ensuring France's supremacy in Europe. Legacy: Together, Louis XIII and Richelieu reshaped France’s political landscape, making the monarchy more centralized and authoritative, which paved the way for the more famous reign of Louis XIV, who would later become the quintessential example of absolute monarchy.

English relief efforts

England attempted to send two more fleets to relieve La Rochelle.

Second La Rochelle expedition

A naval force led by William Feilding, Earl of Denbigh, left in April 1628, but returned without a fight to Portsmouth, as Denbigh said that he had no commission to hazard the king's ships in a fight, and returned shamefully to Portsmouth.^[7]

Third La Rochelle expedition

A third fleet was dispatched under the Admiral of the Fleet, the Earl of Lindsey in September 1628,^[7] consisting of 29 warships and 31 merchantmen.^[8] In September 1628, the English fleet tried to relieve the city. After bombarding French positions and failing to force the sea wall, the English fleet had to withdraw. Following this last disappointment, the city surrendered on 28 October 1628.

Epilogue

Jean Guitton and the defenders vowing to defend La Rochelle to the death

Residents of La Rochelle had resisted for 14 months, under the leadership of the mayor Jean Guitton and with gradually diminishing help from England. During the siege, the population of La Rochelle decreased from 27,000 to 5,000 due to casualties, famine, and disease.

Surrender was unconditional. By the terms of the Peace of Alais, the Huguenots lost their territorial, political, and military rights, but retained the religious freedom granted by the Edict of Nantes. However, they were left at the mercy of the monarchy, unable to resist later when Louis XIV abolished the Edict of Nantes altogether and embarked on active persecution.

Aside from its religious aspect, the siege of La Rochelle marks an important success in the creation of a strong central government of France, in control throughout its territory and able to suppress regional defiance. In the immediate aftermath was the growth of the absolute monarchy, but it had long-term effects upon all later French regimes up to the present.

The French philosopher Descartes is known to have visited the scene of the siege in 1627.

The siege was depicted in detail by numerous artists such as Jacques Callot and marked by the 1635 painting Louis XIII Crowned by Victory.

Birdeye views by Jacques Callot

The Siege of La Rochelle, plate 1.
Plate 2: the sea wall and Les Minimes.
Plate 3: Aytré.

Maps by Jacques Callot

Plate 4: area of La Pallice and Laleu.
Plate 5: overview of La Rochelle surrounded.
Plate 6.

Others

City of La Rochelle and fortifications during the siege, anonymous, 17th century, Versailles.
Siege of La Rochelle by Claude Lorrain, Le Louvre.
The Siege of La Rochelle by Jacques Callot, with the English fleet of the Earl of Lindsey approaching.

Numismatics

Around the time of the siege, a series of propaganda coins were cast to describe the stakes of the siege, and then commemorate the royal victory. These coins depict the siege in symbolic ways, showing the city and the English effort in a poor light, while putting an advantageous light on royal might.^[9]

Lucerna Impiorum Extinguetur ("The beacon of the impious will be extinguished"), 1626.
Two dogs in the water around the reflection of a crown 1627.
Dragon (La Rochelle) and lion (England) mastered under royal arm, 1628.
Lionness captured behind a seawall, 1628.
Sea monster cut in two by the seawall, 1628.
English snail pierced by an arrow on a raft, Esto Domi ("Go Home"), 1628.
Vanquished English ship, Tellus decepit et Unda, 1629.

In popular culture

The siege forms the historical background for the novel The Three Musketeers by Alexandre Dumas, père and the book's numerous adaptations to stage, screen, comics and video game.

The 11th book of Robert Merle's Fortune de France series, La Gloire et les perils, deals entirely with the siege.

In Lawrence Norfolk's 1991 novel, Lemprière's Dictionary, the siege is the central cause of events (entirely fictional) 160 years later in London around the writing of John Lemprière's Classical Dictionary containing a full Account of all the Proper Names mentioned in Ancient Authors. In the novel, a group of eight (originally nine) merchants cause the deaths of most (if not all) of the citizens of La Rochelle by manipulating them into committing mass suicide before escaping the city in subterranean tunnels. This event leads to one of Lemprière's ancestors (whom is said to be a member of the nine merchants) turning against the merchants and also forms a being known as the "Sprite of La Rochelle".

Taylor Caldwell writes about the siege in great detail in her 1943 novel The Arm and the Darkness but has as its commander the fictional Huguenot nobleman Arsene de Richepin, one of the central characters of the book.

References

^ Glete 1999, p. 178.
^ Sturdy 2002, p. 125.
^ Palm 1923, p. 116.
^ Gillespie 2017, pp. 146–147.
^ ^a ^b Historical dictionary of Stuart England, 1603–1689 by Ronald H. Fritze, p. 203 [1]
^ Duffy 1995, p. 118.
^ ^a ^b An apprenticeship in arms by Roger Burrow Manning, p. 119
^ Ships, money, and politics by Kenneth R. Andrews, p. 150
^ Musée d'Orbigny-Bernon exhibit

Sources

Duffy, Christopher (1995). Siege Warfare: The Fortress in the Early Modern World 1494–1660. Routledge. ISBN 978-0415146494.
Gillespie, Alexander (2017). The Causes of War Volume III: 1400 CE to 1650 CE. Hart Publishing. ISBN 978-1849466462.
Glete, Jan (1999). Warfare at sea, 1500–1650: maritime conflicts and the transformation of Europe. Routledge. ISBN 978-0415214551.
Palm, Franklin Charles (1923). "The Siege and Capture of La Rochelle in 1628: Its Economic Significance". Journal of Political Economy. 31 (1): 114–127. doi:10.1086/253493. JSTOR 1823071. S2CID 153639520.
Parker, Geoffrey (1997). The Thirty Years War. Routledge. ISBN 978-0415154581.
Sturdy, David (2002). Fractured Europe: 1600–1721 (Blackwell History of Europe). Wiley & Sons. ISBN 978-0631205128.

[FOOTNOTEGlete1999178-1] Glete 1999, p. 178.

[FOOTNOTESturdy2002125-2] Sturdy 2002, p. 125.

[FOOTNOTEPalm1923116-3] Palm 1923, p. 116.

[FOOTNOTEGillespie2017146–147-4] Gillespie 2017, pp. 146–147.

[google203-5] Historical dictionary of Stuart England, 1603–1689 by Ronald H. Fritze, p. 203 [1]

[FOOTNOTEDuffy1995118-6] Duffy 1995, p. 118.

[google119-7] An apprenticeship in arms by Roger Burrow Manning, p. 119

[8] Ships, money, and politics by Kenneth R. Andrews, p. 150

[9] Musée d'Orbigny-Bernon exhibit

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