Siege of Diksmuide July 1695 | |||||||
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Part of the Nine Years' War | |||||||
Diksmuide Town Hall and St Nicholas Church | |||||||
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Belligerents | |||||||
France |
Grand Alliance Spain Holy Roman Empire Dutch Republic England | ||||||
Commanders and leaders | |||||||
Villeroy Montal |
Colonel Graham Major Duncanson | ||||||
Strength | |||||||
8,000 | 3,500 - 4,000 estimated | ||||||
Casualties and losses | |||||||
Minimal |
Minimal Garrison taken prisoner |
The Capitulation of Diksmuide, or Dixmuide, then in the Spanish Netherlands, took place from 26 to 28 July 1695, during the 1689 to 1697 Nine Years' War. An Allied garrison of around 4,000 men surrendered to a superior French force.
After six years of war, both sides were financially exhausted; the focus of the 1695 campaign was the Allied siege of Namur, captured by the French in 1692. By attacking garrisons like Diksmuide, the French commander sought to prevent the Allies resupplying their army outside Namur.
Its capitulation after only two days resulted in the court martial of garrison commander Major General Ellenberg, and other senior officers. While the reason for his surrender is still disputed, Ellenberg was executed and several officers dismissed.
Namur surrendered to the Allies in September; although fighting did not formally end until 1697, this was the last major event of the war. The French withdrew from Diksmuide following the Treaty of Ryswick.