Siege of Fort Crozon

Siege of Fort Crozon
Part of the Anglo–Spanish War and the French Wars of Religion
Date 1 October - 19 November 1594 Location Pointe des Espagnols, France Result Allied victory
Belligerents
Kingdom of France Kingdom of England	Spain
Commanders and leaders
Jean VI d'Aumont, Marshal of France John Norreys Martin Frobisher†	Thomas de Praxides†
Strength
3,000 French infantry 2,000 English infantry 3,000 French cavalry 400 gentlemen 700 English marines	400 men
Casualties and losses
1,000 men	13 survivors

The Siege of Fort Crozon (also known as the Siege of El Leon) was conducted by English and French troops against a Spanish fort constructed on the Crozon Peninsula near Brest in October and November 1594, late in the French wars of religion. The well-situated fort (called El Leon by the Spanish), part of Spanish preparations for an intended siege of Brest, was held by 400 defenders against an allied force of more than 8,000 from October 1 until November 7, when the walls were breached by a mine. In the ensuing assault, most of the Spanish garrison, which neither asked for nor was offered quarter, was killed.

Both Samuel de Champlain and Martin Frobisher, two early explorers of Canada were at this siege and most probably met there and knew one another. Martin Frobisher was mortally wounded at this siege.

The Spanish failure effectively ended their hopes to use Brest as a launching point for an invasion of England.

References

• The life of Sir Martin Frobisher
• Sir John Norreys and the Elizabethan world

Champlain's Dream The Visionary Adventurer Who Made a New World in Canada, David Hackett Fischer, Alfred A. Knopf Canada, 2008 ISBN 978-0-307-39766-9