The+Siege+of+Rouen+1591

The Siege of Rouen in 1591 was part of the French Wars of Religion. It was the unsuccessful attempt to capture Rouen, the capital of Normandy, by King Henry IV of France. He wanted to capture the city from the Catholic League, a League trying to rid France of Protestants, who were resisting his rule. King Henry's forces included French, English, and Dutch troops. The Catholic League was aided by Spain whose combined forces caused King Henry's Protestant troops to lift the siege.

King Henry IV claimed the throne in 1589. He was a Huguenot, or member of a French Protestant denomination. The Catholics refused to acknowledge King Henry IV as their ruler leading to the conflict in Rouen. The Catholic League was led by Andre de Brancas and combined with Don Alexander Farnese's Spanish forces. This battle became part of the French Wars of Religion, the Eighty Years’ War, and the Anglo-Spanish War.

The siege of Rouen took place in what would be the present day region of upper Normandy, France. If the siege had been successful, then Normandy may not exist today and much of history would be very different. Including the strong history of the Allies, who liberated Rouen from the Nazis in 1944. Because 45% of the city was destroyed during World War II, there is little evidence of the Siege of Rouen remaining in the modern city today.