Siege of Tournai (1667)
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| Siege of Tournai | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Part of the War of Devolution | |||||||
 The Army of Louis XIV in front of Tournai in 1667 by Adam Frans van der Meulen | |||||||
| |||||||
| Belligerents | |||||||
 France |
 Spanish Empire | ||||||
| Commanders and leaders | |||||||
 Louis XIV Vicomte de Turenne |
Marquis de Trazegnies | ||||||
| Strength | |||||||
| 35,000 |
~400 soldiers 4 companies of burghers | ||||||
  Tournai Location of Tournai in modern day Belgium | |||||||
The siege of Tournai was an event in the War of Devolution. A French army commanded by Louis XIV successfully besieged the town of Tournai, then part of the Spanish Netherlands.[1] The siege, which began on 21 June 1667, led to the surrender of the defenders loyal to the Spanish Empire fewer than five days later.[2]
Louis XIV's initial objective for the campaign season had been to capture Brussels, delivering a single decisive blow to the Spanish. Louis was, however, advised by the Vicomte de Turenne to be more cautious and attack easier objectives closer to the French border.[3] In the summer of 1667, Tournai had obsolete fortifications and was lightly defended by a garrison comprising 230 Irish soldiers and 150 cavalry troops under the command of the Marquis de Trazegnies. Trazegnies also had four companies of burghers to draw upon.