The Siege of Breme (13–26 March 1638) was undertaken by Spanish forces under the Marquis of Leganés, Governor of Milan during the Franco-Spanish War (1635-1659),[1] although it was Martín de Aragón, as capitán general of Cavalry, who is credited with putting an end to the siege.[2]
Breme, in Lombardy, is located on the border between the Duchy of Milan and Montferrat. The Fortress of Breme, having been taken by the French and reconquered by the Spanish after a long and bloody siege, was an important pentagonal fortress (trace italienne) that covered Cazal and Vercelli, and also defended both Montferrat and the Piedmont.[1]
After being sent to aid the beleaguered fortress, the French military commander, the Duke of Lesdiguieres (also known as Marshal Créquy) was killed there while reconnoitring, on 17 March 1638.[3]
The French garrison, under the governor Mongallar, comprised 1,800 men.[4] When they capitulated, they were allowed to march out with their arms. They left behind 17 artillery pieces. Leganés then left a garrison of 2,000 infantes and two companies of horse.[4]
Besieging force
The field officers, or higher, including the captains of the tercios that took part, or whose units were present at the siege,[3][1][4] included the following:
- Marquis of Leganés
- Felipe da Silva
- Martín de Aragón
- Francisco de Orozco, 2nd Marquis of Mortara
- Ferrante Limonti (Limonte[4])
- Vicente Gonzaga
- Álvaro de Quiñones
- Tiberio Brancaccio
- Juan Vázquez Coronado
- Carlos de la Gata (Carlo della Gata[5])
- Antonio Sottello (Sotelo[4])
- Antonio Bolognino (Count Boloñín[4])
- Colonel Gil de Hays (Gil de Aix or Ays[4])
- Prince Borso d'Este[4][1]
On his way to the siege, Tiberio Brancaccio's tercio stopped off at the fortress at Sartirana Lomellina, whose garrison of 60 men and their captain they captured after a few exchanges of cannon fire.[4]
While at Breme, Leganés also took the fortress at Verrua (10 April)[6] and at Crescentino (11 April).[6]
Following his success at Breme, Leganés then prepared to besiege Vercelli,[4] which he did from 26/7 May to 6 July 1638.[7]
The Royal Collection Trust has two etchings and engravings, printed on paper, of the siege; one, a high oblique view, by Bernardino Bassano (fl. 1635-38), with a key in Italian[1] and another, oriented with north to top, by Giovanni Paolo Bianchi (fl. 1617-54), with a key in Spanish.[3] Both show the location where the French military commander (maresciallo Chirichi, in Italian) was killed.
References
- ^ a b c d e "Bernardino Bassano (fl. 1635-38): View of Breme, 1638 (Breme, Lombardy, Italy) 45°07ʹ39ʺN 08°37ʹ32ʺE 1638 or later". Franco-Spanish War (1635-59). Royal Collection Trust. Retrieved 28 December 2024.
- ^ (in Spanish) Sánchez Martín, Juan Luis. "Martín de Aragón y Tafalla". Diccionario Biográfico electrónico. Real Academia de la Historia. Retrieved 29 December 2024.
- ^ a b c "Giovanni Paolo Bianchi (fl. 1617-54): View of Breme, 1638 (Breme, Lombardy, Italy) 45°07ʹ39ʺN 08°37ʹ32ʺE 1638 or later". Franco-Spanish War (1635-59). Royal Collection Trust. Retrieved 28 December 2024.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j Gómez, Antonio (2018). Con balas de plata (I) 1631-40: 700 combates de la Casa de Austria. Google Books. Retrieved 29 December 2024.
- ^ Regia deputazione sovra gli studi di storia patria per le antiche province e la Lombardia. Miscellanea di storia italiana, p. 324. Internet Archive. Retrieved 29 December 2024.
- ^ a b "Anonymous: View of Crescentino, 1638 (Crescentino, Piedmont, Italy) 45°11ʹ26ʺN 08°06ʹ00ʺE 1638 or later". Franco-Spanish War (1635-59). Royal Collection Trust. Retrieved 29 December 2024.
- ^ Bassano, Cesare. "Cesare Bassano (1583-1648): Map of the siege of Vercelli, 1638 (Vercelli, Piedmont, Italy) 45°19ʹ17ʺN 08°25ʹ11ʺE 1638 or later". Franco-Spanish War (1635-59). Royal Collection Trust. Retrieved 29 December 2024.