Siege of Ostend (1745) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Siege of Ostend |
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| Part of the War of Austrian Succession | |||||||
A plan of the attack |
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| 30,000 | 3,600 | ||||||
The Siege of Ostend was a battle that lasted for two weeks in August 1745. It took place in the port city of Ostend, which was then part of the Austrian Netherlands (today's Belgium). This siege was a key event during the War of Austrian Succession.
A French army, led by a commander named Count de Löwendal, fought against a group of soldiers mainly from Britain. These soldiers were protecting Ostend and were led by an Austrian governor, Lieutenant-General Charles Urban, Count de Chanclos. The French army won the siege.
Why the Siege Happened
The French army had been very successful in the Austrian Netherlands. They had won a big battle called the Battle of Fontenoy. After this, some British soldiers had to leave the area. They went home to deal with a rebellion there, known as the Jacobite uprising. This made it easier for the French to take over more places.
The Battle for Ostend
Count de Löwendal, a German who had served in the Russian army, arrived at Ostend in August 1745. He brought a large army of 30,000 troops. After a few days of fighting outside the city, the French began to attack the city itself with cannons.
The defenders inside Ostend were a much smaller group, only about 3,600 soldiers. After just one week of the French attack, they had to give up. The French allowed them to leave the city with honor. They were then taken to another city called Mons.
On September 3, 1745, King Louis XV of France himself rode into Ostend. This showed how important the victory was to him.
What Happened Next
After taking Ostend, the French army continued to capture almost all of the Austrian Netherlands. However, these lands were later given back to Austria. This happened in 1748, as part of a peace agreement called the Treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle.
Images for kids
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A view of the siege, painted by Louis Nicolas van Blarenberghe