Siege of Thionville (1643)

The siege began on June 16.
By July 18, the Picardy, La Marine, and Gramont-Liégeois regiments had captured the Counterscarp. The Besieged defended themselves bravely, repelled two attacks, and even launched a counterattack.^[2]

But by early August the main bastions of the town were mined. Condé had the Spaniards informed of their situation, which they had not yet fully grasped. The besieged requested to inspect the miners' work, and Condé agreed. When they saw for themselves that Condé had told the truth and that they had no hope of rescue, they offered their surrender. On August 8, they were granted honorable terms.^[3]

At the end of the siege, the garrison of Thionville had been reduced to 1,200 men, representing a loss of 1,600. Furthermore, the governor and the town's mayor had been killed. The surrender, granted by Condé, was signed on August 8th by him and by Sergeant major Dorio, who had become commander after the governor's death.^[2]

The French losses are not known, but were also heavy. The Marquis de Gesvres had been killed and Marshal Jean de Gassion was severly injured.

The town lay largely in ruins; only a few houses remained undamaged. The garrison of Thionville left the city by noon on August 10th, taking their wounded and baggage with them.^[2]

To secure his conquest, Condé occupied Sierck, a small town on the right bank of the Moselle River northeast of Thionville. Sierck, however, was not under Spanish control, but rather under the command of Duke Charles IV of Lorraine, a longtime enemy of France.

Cavalry Colonel Antoine-Joachim, Baron de Marolles, was appointed governor of Thionville by Condé. This appointment was confirmed by the court, and he remained in this function until 1655.^[1]