Siege of Maastricht (1793)

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Siege of Maastricht (1793)
Part of the Flanders campaign in the War of the First Coalition
1793 Beleg van Maastricht (J Buys, 1795).jpg
Bombing of Maastricht, 1793
DateMarch 2, 1793
Location 50°51′9″N5°40′38″E / 50.85250°N 5.67722°E / 50.85250; 5.67722
Result Coalition Victory
Belligerents
Flag of France official.svg France

Statenvlag.svg  Dutch Republic

Banner of the Holy Roman Emperor without haloes (1400-1806).svg Austria
Flag of the Kingdom of Prussia (1750-1801).svg Prussia
Commanders and leaders
Flag of France official.svg Francisco de Miranda Statenvlag.svg Prince Frederick
Flag of Royalist France.svg Jean Thérèse
Banner of the Holy Roman Emperor without haloes (1400-1806).svg Prince Josias
Strength
Flag of France (1794-1815, 1830-1958).svg 15,000Statenvlag.svg 4,500
Flag of Royalist France.svg 1,200
Banner of the Holy Roman Emperor without haloes (1400-1806).svg 50,000
Flag of the Kingdom of Prussia (1750-1801).svg 20,000
Casualties and losses
UnknownUnknown
Netherlands relief location map.svg
Red pog.svg
Location within Netherlands
Europe relief laea location map.jpg
Red pog.svg
Siege of Maastricht (1793) (Europe)

The siege of Maastricht was a failed siege of the city of Maastricht by the forces of the French First Republic from 6 February to 2 March 1793, marking the final action of the 1793 campaign of the War of the First Coalition. The city was successfully defended by the Dutch garrison with the assistance of a small band of French Royalists.

Contents

Course

On 29 November 1792, John Skey Eustace sent a letter to the commander of Maastricht (Prince Frederick of Hesse-Kassel) demanding the surrender of French emigrants who had taken refuge in this Dutch city. Then he personally visited Maastricht, where he dined with the German commander in Austrian service, as a result of which he was removed from command on 13 December and a few days later succeeded by Francisco de Miranda.

It was the last of several French Republican sieges during 1792–1793. Inspired by military successes in the Austrian Netherlands, the French First Republic declared war on the Dutch Republic and England on 1 February 1793. General Charles-François Dumouriez invaded the Dutch Republic from the south-west, aiming for Breda, while Miranda advanced along the river Meuse towards the heavily-fortified city of Maastricht. Miranda hoped to take the city in a few days with only 15,000 men and invested it from the Wyck suburb side. The Dutch garrison of 4,500 men were led by the governor of Maastricht, Prince Frederick of Hesse-Kassel. They were assisted by around 1200 French Royalist of the Armée des Émigrés , including 300 officers, under the command of Jean Thérèse de Beaumont d'Autichamp, a former cavalry general of the French royal army.

On 6 February, De Miranda completed the circumvallation of Maastricht and Wyck. Sapping took around two weeks, after which the city was heavily bombed for ten days. More than 800 buildings were destroyed.

Jean-Marat accused Eustace and Miranda of the failure of the Siege of Maastricht, [1] and Dumouriez planned to sent him to Paris to explain his behavior before the Convention Nationale. However, Eustace ignored the order and, claiming to be dangerously ill, retired to the Tongerlo Abbey, where he successfully resisted an attempt to question and arrest him.

After the Austrian victory at the nearby Battle of Aldenhoven (1793) on 1 March, the French Republican lines were themselves besieged by 50,000 Austrians and 20,000 Prussians, led by Prince Josias of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld. Miranda ordered a retreat on 2 March, described by some as a "flight".

On 4 September, the Prince of Coburg held a triumphal entrance in the city, followed by a Te Deum in the Church of Saint Servatius. A year and a half later, Jean-Baptiste Kléber was more successful. He conquered the city in 45 days, after which Maastricht was part of France for twenty years.

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References

  1. Letters on the Emancipation & Preservation of the United Provinces by J.S. Eustace, p. 111

Sources