First Siege of Livron, June 1574

The first siege of Livron (June 1574) was an unsuccessful Catholic attempt to capture the small Huguenot-held town that took place in the gap between the Fourth and Fifth Wars of Religion.

Livron was a small town located on the northern bank of the Drôme, close to that river's confluence with the Rhône and only ten miles south of the Episcopal city of Valence. A large number of Huguenots took refuge in the town, where they were led by the veteran Huguenot leader Montbrun. Under his command the fortifications of the town were improved.

The first siege was commanded by François de Bourbon, Prince Dauphin d'Auvergne, the eldest son of the Duke of Bourbon-Montpensier. Prince Dauphin began this siege on 23 June, but it was short-lived. The Huguenots sallied from the town, spiked one of his few cannons, and forced Dauphin to raise the siege a few days after it began.

Livron was besieged again, from 17 December 1574-24 January 1575, but despite the presence of Henry III this second siege was no more successful than the first.

The French Religious Wars 1562-1598, Robert Jean Knecht. A useful guide to the complex series of nine French Wars of Religion, including an examination of who the wars began and the main players on both sides, narrative accounts of the wars, overviews of the most important battles and sieges. Also looks at the impact of the wars on France’s neighbours, many of whom got dragged into the conflict, and on a selection of soldiers and civilians. Supported by a series of maps that help show how complex the conflict was
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How to cite this article: Rickard, J (28 February 2011), First Siege of Livron, June 1574 , http://www.historyofwar.org/articles/siege_livron_first.html

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