Siege of Lusignan, September 1574-25 January 1575

The siege of Lusignan (September 1574-25 January 1575) was a costly Catholic victory that came in the gap between the Fourth and Fifth Wars of Religion.

The strong castle of Lusignan had been taken by the Huguenots in 1569 during the Third War of Religion, and was still held by them in 1574 when it was defended by René de Rohan, Sieur de Frontenay. He had a garrison of 40 gentlemen and 600 troops, and was badly outnumbered by his opponent, the duke of Montpensier.

The siege began in September 1574. Montpensier launched a number of assaults on the castle each of which failed, and the siege dragged on for four months. Eventually a lack of supplies forced the defenders to negotiate, and the length of the siege and the stubbornness of their resistance convinced Montpensier to agree to honourable terms. On 25 January 1575 the garrison marched out of the castle with their arms and baggage. The defenders had lost around a third of their number - 25 gentlemen and 200 troops, but Montpensier had suffered more heavily, losing around 800-1,200 men during the siege. In the aftermath of the siege the castle was razed to the ground. 

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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