Siege of Glatz
Encyclopedia
The Siege of Glatz took place in 1760 during the Seven Years' War
when an Austrian force led by General von Laudon
laid siege to and successfully stormed the fortress of Glatz from its Prussian
garrison.
On 6 June Loudon surrounded Glatz, but he had to wait until heavy artillery was brought from Olmutz in neighbouring Bohemia
. While waiting, Loudon received information about the approach of a Prussian force under Fouqué
. With his much larger force Loudon moved to intercept the smaller force, forcing Fouqué to surrender at the Battle of Landeshut on 23 June.
Loudon then returned his attentions to the siege of Glatz. The arrival of his heavy artillery had allowed the siege to properly begin on 20 July and a trench had been dug. Once the guns had weakened the defences Loudon was able to organise volunteers to storm the city, opening the gates and allowing the remainder of the Austrian army to enter.
The Prussian commander Colonel Bartolomei d'O was taken prisoner by the Austrians. Following his release at the end of the war he was tried and executed by Frederick the Great as a punishment for losing Glatz.
Seven Years' War
The Seven Years' War was a global military war between 1756 and 1763, involving most of the great powers of the time and affecting Europe, North America, Central America, the West African coast, India, and the Philippines...
when an Austrian force led by General von Laudon
Ernst Gideon Freiherr von Laudon
Baron Ernst Gideon von Laudon Baron Ernst Gideon von Laudon Baron Ernst Gideon von Laudon (German: Ernst Gideon Freiherr von Laudon (originally Laudohn or Loudon) (Tootzen, now Latvia, February 2, 1717 – July 14, 1790 in Nový Jičín, now Czech Republic) was an Austrian field marshal, one of the most...
laid siege to and successfully stormed the fortress of Glatz from its Prussian
Kingdom of Prussia
The Kingdom of Prussia was a German kingdom from 1701 to 1918. Until the defeat of Germany in World War I, it comprised almost two-thirds of the area of the German Empire...
garrison.
On 6 June Loudon surrounded Glatz, but he had to wait until heavy artillery was brought from Olmutz in neighbouring Bohemia
Bohemia
Bohemia is a historical region in central Europe, occupying the western two-thirds of the traditional Czech Lands. It is located in the contemporary Czech Republic with its capital in Prague...
. While waiting, Loudon received information about the approach of a Prussian force under Fouqué
Heinrich August de la Motte Fouqué
Ernst Heinrich August de la Motte Fouqué was a Prussian general and confidant of King Frederick the Great. Fouqué held the title of Freiherr .-Early life:...
. With his much larger force Loudon moved to intercept the smaller force, forcing Fouqué to surrender at the Battle of Landeshut on 23 June.
Loudon then returned his attentions to the siege of Glatz. The arrival of his heavy artillery had allowed the siege to properly begin on 20 July and a trench had been dug. Once the guns had weakened the defences Loudon was able to organise volunteers to storm the city, opening the gates and allowing the remainder of the Austrian army to enter.
Aftermath
Following a series of extensive manoeuvres and several heavy battles the during 1760 Glatz ultimately remained the only territory captured by the Austrian and their allies leaving the situation almost unchanged since a year before.The Prussian commander Colonel Bartolomei d'O was taken prisoner by the Austrians. Following his release at the end of the war he was tried and executed by Frederick the Great as a punishment for losing Glatz.