Siege of Montmélian, 1600

ASSEDIO, ET PRESA DELLA / FORTEZZA DI MONMILIANO / a di i7, 9bre / i600

A view of the siege of Montmélian, held by the Savoyard Jacques, Count of Brandis, by the French, commanded by François de Bonne de Lesdiguières (1 April 1543-28 September 1626) from August to November 1600 resulting in the capitulation of the town on 16 November 1600. Franco-Savoyard War (1600-1601). Oriented with south to top.

A low to medium oblique view, with the Isère River and the fortified town of Montmélian in the foreground, and, in the distance to the top centre of view, the city of Grenoble where Henry IV was staying at the time of the siege.

The fortress of Montmélian was ‘of that Strength, as not many places in Christendom can compare with it’. In order to try to preserve it, Monsieur de Brandis gave three hostages to Henry IV with the caveat that if the Duke of Savoy did not come within a month with a large army to relieve the town, de Brandis would surrender it. This view shows that the citadel, flying the French fleur-de-lys, is firing on the town, together with the French batteries encircling it. The disposition of these works had been made by Sully who had taken time to observe where the weak points of the fortifications were.

Sully, in his detailed description of this siege, wrote that ‘This castle is situated on a rock … so high, that it commands the whole country about it; steep and inaccessible on all sides except that next the city, where the ascent is less difficult’.