Siege of Maastricht Dutch War [1673] Actions Cite verifiedCite While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions. Select Citation Style MLA APA Chicago Manual of Style Copy Citation Share Share Share to social media Facebook X URL https://www.britannica.com/event/Siege-of-Maastricht-1673 Give Feedback Feedback Corrections? Updates? Omissions? Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). Feedback Type Select a type (Required) Factual Correction Spelling/Grammar Correction Link Correction Additional Information Other Your Feedback Submit Feedback Thank you for your feedback Our editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article.

　　Print Cite verifiedCite While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions. Select Citation Style MLA APA Chicago Manual of Style Copy Citation Share Share Share to social media Facebook X URL https://www.britannica.com/event/Siege-of-Maastricht-1673 Feedback Written by Jacob F. Field Jacob F. Field is an early modern historian based at the University of Cambridge. Jacob F. Field Fact-checked by The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree. They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors. The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica Last Updated: Jul 29, 2024 • Article History Table of Contents

　　Sébastien Le Prestre de Vauban See all media Date: June 6, 1673 - July 1, 1673 (Show more) Location: Maastricht Netherlands (Show more) Participants: Dutch Republic France (Show more) Context: Dutch War (Show more) Key People: Louis XIV Sébastien Le Prestre de Vauban (Show more) See all related content → Ask a Question Ask a Question The Siege of Maastricht showed the genius of Sébastien Le Preste de Vauban, the most renowned military engineer of his day. In this siege, which was carried out from June 6 to July 1, 1673, during the Franco-Dutch War, Vauban was able to capture the well-fortified city without a prolonged struggle.

　　The Dutch had helped block French expansion into the Spanish Netherlands in 1669. Louis XIV became progressively more anti-Dutch and invaded the United Provinces in 1672. The French captured many important Dutch cities, but bypassed Maastricht in their rapid advance north. By 1673, Dutch-held Maastricht was a major hindrance to French operations in the area, so Louis moved to capture it, taking personal command of the army that moved against the city. Maastricht was in a strong position and commanded a crossing of the River Meuse. It also had a garrison of around 6,000, with a skilled commander, Jacques de Fariaux.

　　Dutch War Events keyboard_arrow_left

　　Anglo-Dutch Wars July 8, 1652 - April 1654; March 1665 - July 1667; 1672 - 1674; December 20, 1780 - May 1784

　　Siege of Maastricht June 6, 1673 - July 1, 1673

　　Battle of Saint-Denis August 14, 1678 keyboard_arrow_right The siege began on June 6. On June 8, 7,000 peasants were conscripted to dig extensive lines to surround Maastricht. When Louis arrived on June 10, he gave command of the siege to Vauban. Vauban unleashed the might of his battery of twenty-six guns. He ordered trenches to be dug parallel to the walls. Then he used artillery to protect sappers digging diagonal trenches toward a closer position where another trench was started. Using this technique, Vauban moved closer and closer to Maastricht. A direct assault on the walls on June 25 failed, with the loss of 300. Ultimately, it was the effective use of artillery and mines that made the position of the defenders untenable. On June 30, Fariaux agreed to parlay, and the next day French troops entered Maastricht.

　　Perhaps the most enduring historical memory of the Siege of Maastricht is literary, for it was during the assault of June 25 that the commanding officer of the first company of France’s elite royal guard, Charles de Batz-Castelmore, Count d’Artagnan, was killed. That event is a staple of French historical education, but d’Artagnan is widely known elsewhere for being a central character in Alexandre Dumas’s beloved novel The Three Musketeers.

　　Five years after the siege, Louis returned Maastricht as a concession to Prince William III of Orange, who would go on to become King William of England.