Battle of Craon
Encyclopedia
The Battle of Craon took place between 21–24 May 1592, between the French Royal army
under the Duke of Montpensier and François de Bourbon, Prince of Conti
, reinforced by English contingents
, against the Catholic League
of France during the War of the Three Henrys, in the context of the French Wars of Religion
. Craon was besieged by the army of Henry of Navarre
, but the defenders, supported by a Catholic relief force recruited by Philippe Emmanuel, Duke of Mercœur, resisted. At the end, Craon was liberated by the Spaniards under Don Juan del Águila
, who defeated the Anglo-French besiegers.
in the region, the Duke of Mercœur, Governor of Brittany
, ordered his chief lieutenant, Urbain de Laval Boisdauphin, to strengthen Craon. In 1590, Mercœur rebelled against the ascension to the throne of France of Henry of Navarre
and becomes the head of the Catholic League of Brittany, aiming to return to restore the autonomy of the former Duchy, and proclaimed protector of the Catholic Church in the region of Brittany
.
The Duke of Mercœur gets the support of the Catholic King, Philip II of Spain
, who sent him 7,000 Spanish soldiers who landed at Blavet
(Port Louis
) under the command of Don Juan del Águila
.
On 8 February 1592, Henry of Navarre
decided to take the city of Craon. His cousins, the Duke of Montpensier and François de Bourbon, Prince de Conti
, secretly gathered together in Laval
to organise the attack. Montpensier arrived with his army on 14 April 1592, aided by 1,200 English troops and 800 German mercenaries, and laid siege to the town. Then on 20 May 1592, Mercœur and Sablé
arrived with their armies to defend Craon.
by the Catholic troops against the French troops of Montpensier and Conti was heroic. On May 22, 1592, the Spanish-Catholic army reached Craon under Mercœur and Juan del Águila
. The Spanish-Catholic troops charged against the left flank, taking by surprise the Anglo-French besiegers. At the same time the besieged angrily attacked the right flank, finally achieving a brilliant victory. Under cover of night, Montpensier retired to Laval
and Rennes
.
The Spaniards captured all the artillery, ammunition carts, flags, equipment and supplies from the enemy. The English soldiers captured, were not given quarter, and were all executed, in retaliation for the cruelty received from the English in the wrecks of the Spanish Armada
.
and Blavet
by Mercœur, quickly realized that the Spaniards behaved as their conquerors and did not recognize any authority other than their King, Philip II
.
Just a few days later, Laval
fell in the hands of the Catholic League. On May 23, 1592, the Prince of Conti
retreated into the Chateau-Gontier
. Mercœur and Boisdauphin entered into Laval
and took the Chateau-Gontier. Boisdauphin took command of Laval, and Louis Champagné became Governor of Chateau-Gontier
.
Henry IV of France
Henry IV , Henri-Quatre, was King of France from 1589 to 1610 and King of Navarre from 1572 to 1610. He was the first monarch of the Bourbon branch of the Capetian dynasty in France....
under the Duke of Montpensier and François de Bourbon, Prince of Conti
François de Bourbon, prince de Conti
François de Bourbon, Prince de Conti was the third son of Louis I de Bourbon, Prince de Condé, who founded the House of Condé, and his first wife Eléanor de Roucy de Roye...
, reinforced by English contingents
Kingdom of England
The Kingdom of England was, from 927 to 1707, a sovereign state to the northwest of continental Europe. At its height, the Kingdom of England spanned the southern two-thirds of the island of Great Britain and several smaller outlying islands; what today comprises the legal jurisdiction of England...
, against the Catholic League
Catholic League (French)
The Catholic League of France, sometimes referred to by contemporary Roman Catholics as the Holy League, a major player in the French Wars of Religion, was formed by Duke Henry of Guise in 1576...
of France during the War of the Three Henrys, in the context of the French Wars of Religion
French Wars of Religion
The French Wars of Religion is the name given to a period of civil infighting and military operations, primarily fought between French Catholics and Protestants . The conflict involved the factional disputes between the aristocratic houses of France, such as the House of Bourbon and House of Guise...
. Craon was besieged by the army of Henry of Navarre
Henry IV of France
Henry IV , Henri-Quatre, was King of France from 1589 to 1610 and King of Navarre from 1572 to 1610. He was the first monarch of the Bourbon branch of the Capetian dynasty in France....
, but the defenders, supported by a Catholic relief force recruited by Philippe Emmanuel, Duke of Mercœur, resisted. At the end, Craon was liberated by the Spaniards under Don Juan del Águila
Juan del Águila
Frey Juan Del Águila y Arellano was a Spanish general. He commanded the Spanish expeditionary Tercio troops in Sicily then in Brittany , before serving as general of the Spanish armies in the invasion of Ireland ....
, who defeated the Anglo-French besiegers.
Background
The commander of the Catholic League of FranceCatholic League (French)
The Catholic League of France, sometimes referred to by contemporary Roman Catholics as the Holy League, a major player in the French Wars of Religion, was formed by Duke Henry of Guise in 1576...
in the region, the Duke of Mercœur, Governor of Brittany
Brittany
Brittany is a cultural and administrative region in the north-west of France. Previously a kingdom and then a duchy, Brittany was united to the Kingdom of France in 1532 as a province. Brittany has also been referred to as Less, Lesser or Little Britain...
, ordered his chief lieutenant, Urbain de Laval Boisdauphin, to strengthen Craon. In 1590, Mercœur rebelled against the ascension to the throne of France of Henry of Navarre
Henry IV of France
Henry IV , Henri-Quatre, was King of France from 1589 to 1610 and King of Navarre from 1572 to 1610. He was the first monarch of the Bourbon branch of the Capetian dynasty in France....
and becomes the head of the Catholic League of Brittany, aiming to return to restore the autonomy of the former Duchy, and proclaimed protector of the Catholic Church in the region of Brittany
Brittany
Brittany is a cultural and administrative region in the north-west of France. Previously a kingdom and then a duchy, Brittany was united to the Kingdom of France in 1532 as a province. Brittany has also been referred to as Less, Lesser or Little Britain...
.
The Duke of Mercœur gets the support of the Catholic King, Philip II of Spain
Philip II of Spain
Philip II was King of Spain, Portugal, Naples, Sicily, and, while married to Mary I, King of England and Ireland. He was lord of the Seventeen Provinces from 1556 until 1581, holding various titles for the individual territories such as duke or count....
, who sent him 7,000 Spanish soldiers who landed at Blavet
Blavet
The Blavet river flows from central Brittany and enters the Atlantic Ocean on the south coast near Lorient. The river is canalized for most of its length and is navigable for smaller craft. It is part of Brittany's canal system and became more important when the western half of that system got cut...
(Port Louis
Port Louis
-Economy:The economy is dominated by its port, which handles Mauritius' international trade. The port was founded by the French who preferred Port Louis as the City is shielded by the Port Louis/Moka mountain range. It is the largest container handling facility in the Indian Ocean and can...
) under the command of Don Juan del Águila
Juan del Águila
Frey Juan Del Águila y Arellano was a Spanish general. He commanded the Spanish expeditionary Tercio troops in Sicily then in Brittany , before serving as general of the Spanish armies in the invasion of Ireland ....
.
On 8 February 1592, Henry of Navarre
Henry IV of France
Henry IV , Henri-Quatre, was King of France from 1589 to 1610 and King of Navarre from 1572 to 1610. He was the first monarch of the Bourbon branch of the Capetian dynasty in France....
decided to take the city of Craon. His cousins, the Duke of Montpensier and François de Bourbon, Prince de Conti
François de Bourbon, prince de Conti
François de Bourbon, Prince de Conti was the third son of Louis I de Bourbon, Prince de Condé, who founded the House of Condé, and his first wife Eléanor de Roucy de Roye...
, secretly gathered together in Laval
Laval, Mayenne
Laval is a commune in the Mayenne department in north-western France.It lies on the threshold of Brittany and on the border between Normandy and Anjou. Its citizens are called Lavallois.-Geography:...
to organise the attack. Montpensier arrived with his army on 14 April 1592, aided by 1,200 English troops and 800 German mercenaries, and laid siege to the town. Then on 20 May 1592, Mercœur and Sablé
Sablé-sur-Sarthe
Sablé-sur-Sarthe, commonly referred to as Sablé, is a commune in the Sarthe department in the Pays de la Loire region in west France.-Geography:...
arrived with their armies to defend Craon.
The Battle
The defense of the city of CraonCraon, Mayenne
Craon is a commune in the Mayenne department in north-western France.-Geography:The Oudon River flows through the middle of the commune and through the town of Craon....
by the Catholic troops against the French troops of Montpensier and Conti was heroic. On May 22, 1592, the Spanish-Catholic army reached Craon under Mercœur and Juan del Águila
Juan del Águila
Frey Juan Del Águila y Arellano was a Spanish general. He commanded the Spanish expeditionary Tercio troops in Sicily then in Brittany , before serving as general of the Spanish armies in the invasion of Ireland ....
. The Spanish-Catholic troops charged against the left flank, taking by surprise the Anglo-French besiegers. At the same time the besieged angrily attacked the right flank, finally achieving a brilliant victory. Under cover of night, Montpensier retired to Laval
Laval, Mayenne
Laval is a commune in the Mayenne department in north-western France.It lies on the threshold of Brittany and on the border between Normandy and Anjou. Its citizens are called Lavallois.-Geography:...
and Rennes
Rennes
Rennes is a city in the east of Brittany in northwestern France. Rennes is the capital of the region of Brittany, as well as the Ille-et-Vilaine department.-History:...
.
The Spaniards captured all the artillery, ammunition carts, flags, equipment and supplies from the enemy. The English soldiers captured, were not given quarter, and were all executed, in retaliation for the cruelty received from the English in the wrecks of the Spanish Armada
Spanish Armada
This article refers to the Battle of Gravelines, for the modern navy of Spain, see Spanish NavyThe Spanish Armada was the Spanish fleet that sailed against England under the command of the Duke of Medina Sidonia in 1588, with the intention of overthrowing Elizabeth I of England to stop English...
.
Aftermath
Jérôme d'Arradon, a French commander, who was entrusted with the command of HennebontHennebont
Hennebont is a commune in the Morbihan department in the region of Brittany in north-western France.-Geography:Hennebont is situated about ten miles from the mouth of the River Blavet, which divides it into two parts: the Ville Close, the medieval walled town, and the 17th century Ville Neuve on...
and Blavet
Blavet
The Blavet river flows from central Brittany and enters the Atlantic Ocean on the south coast near Lorient. The river is canalized for most of its length and is navigable for smaller craft. It is part of Brittany's canal system and became more important when the western half of that system got cut...
by Mercœur, quickly realized that the Spaniards behaved as their conquerors and did not recognize any authority other than their King, Philip II
Philip II of Spain
Philip II was King of Spain, Portugal, Naples, Sicily, and, while married to Mary I, King of England and Ireland. He was lord of the Seventeen Provinces from 1556 until 1581, holding various titles for the individual territories such as duke or count....
.
Just a few days later, Laval
Laval, Mayenne
Laval is a commune in the Mayenne department in north-western France.It lies on the threshold of Brittany and on the border between Normandy and Anjou. Its citizens are called Lavallois.-Geography:...
fell in the hands of the Catholic League. On May 23, 1592, the Prince of Conti
François de Bourbon, prince de Conti
François de Bourbon, Prince de Conti was the third son of Louis I de Bourbon, Prince de Condé, who founded the House of Condé, and his first wife Eléanor de Roucy de Roye...
retreated into the Chateau-Gontier
Château-Gontier
Château-Gontier is a commune in the Mayenne department in north-western France.It is about south of Laval, the préfecture of the department of Mayenne. Château-Gontier is home to the Refuge de l'Arche, a refuge for abandoned or mistreated animals.-People:...
. Mercœur and Boisdauphin entered into Laval
Laval, Mayenne
Laval is a commune in the Mayenne department in north-western France.It lies on the threshold of Brittany and on the border between Normandy and Anjou. Its citizens are called Lavallois.-Geography:...
and took the Chateau-Gontier. Boisdauphin took command of Laval, and Louis Champagné became Governor of Chateau-Gontier
Château-Gontier
Château-Gontier is a commune in the Mayenne department in north-western France.It is about south of Laval, the préfecture of the department of Mayenne. Château-Gontier is home to the Refuge de l'Arche, a refuge for abandoned or mistreated animals.-People:...
.
See also
- Catholic LeagueCatholic League (French)The Catholic League of France, sometimes referred to by contemporary Roman Catholics as the Holy League, a major player in the French Wars of Religion, was formed by Duke Henry of Guise in 1576...
- BrittanyBrittanyBrittany is a cultural and administrative region in the north-west of France. Previously a kingdom and then a duchy, Brittany was united to the Kingdom of France in 1532 as a province. Brittany has also been referred to as Less, Lesser or Little Britain...
- Duchy of Brittany
- Edict of NantesEdict of NantesThe Edict of Nantes, issued on 13 April 1598, by Henry IV of France, granted the Calvinist Protestants of France substantial rights in a nation still considered essentially Catholic. In the Edict, Henry aimed primarily to promote civil unity...
- War of the Three Henrys
- French Wars of ReligionFrench Wars of ReligionThe French Wars of Religion is the name given to a period of civil infighting and military operations, primarily fought between French Catholics and Protestants . The conflict involved the factional disputes between the aristocratic houses of France, such as the House of Bourbon and House of Guise...