Siege of Fort Crozon
Encyclopedia
The Siege of Fort Crozon (also known as the Siege of El Leon) was conducted by English
and French
troops against a Spanish fort constructed on the Crozon Peninsula near Brest
in October and November 1594, late in the French wars of religion
. The well-situated fort (called El Leon by the Spanish), part of Spanish preparations for an intended siege of Brest, was held by 400 defenders against an allied force of more than 8,000 from October 1 until November 7, when the walls were breached by a mine. In the ensuing assault, most of the Spanish garrison, which neither asked for nor was offered quarter, was killed.
The Spanish failure effectively ended their hopes to use Brest as a launching point for an invasion of England.
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...
and French
Kingdom of France
The Kingdom of France was one of the most powerful states to exist in Europe during the second millennium.It originated from the Western portion of the Frankish empire, and consolidated significant power and influence over the next thousand years. Louis XIV, also known as the Sun King, developed a...
troops against a Spanish fort constructed on the Crozon Peninsula near Brest
Brest, France
Brest is a city in the Finistère department in Brittany in northwestern France. Located in a sheltered position not far from the western tip of the Breton peninsula, and the western extremity of metropolitan France, Brest is an important harbour and the second French military port after Toulon...
in October and November 1594, late in 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...
. The well-situated fort (called El Leon by the Spanish), part of Spanish preparations for an intended siege of Brest, was held by 400 defenders against an allied force of more than 8,000 from October 1 until November 7, when the walls were breached by a mine. In the ensuing assault, most of the Spanish garrison, which neither asked for nor was offered quarter, was killed.
The Spanish failure effectively ended their hopes to use Brest as a launching point for an invasion of England.