Siege of Sommières, 11 February-9 April 1573

The siege of Sommières (11 February-9 April 1573) was a minor Catholic success during the Fourth War of Religion, but one that took far too long to achieve and only ended when the defenders were given generous terms.

Sommières was close to the Huguenot stronghold at Nismes. It was attacked by a Royal force led by Marshal Damville in February 1573, but the defenders had held out for much monger than he had expected. A number of assaults were beaten off by the defenders, who used boiling oil and red-hot loops of iron against the attackers.

Damville eventually ended the siege by offering the defenders generous terms, including the right for the garrison to march out with full honours of war. The siege ended on 9 April, after delaying the Royal army for two months and costing them around 2,500 men.

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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