Battle of Vimory

Battle in the French Wars of Religion

47°56′35″N 2°40′37″E / 47.943°N 2.677°E / 47.943; 2.677Result Catholic victoryBelligerents Royal Army (Catholics) Huguenots, German and Swiss mercenairesCommanders and leaders Henry I, Duke of Guise Fabien I, Burgrave of Dohna
Duke of BouillonStrength ? 25,000Casualties and losses ? ?

French Wars of Religion

First; 1562–1563
Conflict in the provinces; Rouen; Vergt; Dreux; Orléans

Second; 1567–1568
Saint-Denis; Chartres

Third; 1568–1570
Jarnac; La Roche-l'Abeille; Poitiers; Orthez; Moncontour; Saint-Jean d'Angély; Arney-le-Duc

Fourth; 1572–1573
Mons; Sommières; Sancerre; La Rochelle

Fifth; 1574–1576
Dormans

Sixth; 1577
La Charité-sur-Loire; Issoire; Brouage

Seventh; 1580
La Fère

War of the Three Henrys (1585–1589)
Coutras; Vimory; Auneau; Day of the Barricades

Succession of Henry IV of France (1589–1594)
Arques; Ivry; Paris; Château-Laudran; Rouen; Caudebec; Craon; 1st Luxembourg; Blaye; Morlaix; Fort Crozon

Franco-Spanish War (1595–1598)
2nd Luxembourg; Fontaine-Française; Ham; Le Catelet; Doullens; Cambrai; Calais; La Fère; Ardres; Amiens

The Battle of Vimory, occurred on 26 October 1587 between the French royal (Catholic) forces of King Henry III of France commanded by the duke of Guise and German and Swiss mercenaries commanded by Fabien I, Burgrave of Dohna and the duke of Bouillon who were hired to assist Henry of Navarre's Huguenot forces during the eighth and final war (1585-1598) of the French Wars of Religion.

The Protestant mercenaries were funded by Elizabeth I of England and the King of Denmark. After having pillaged the Lorraine region, they arrived in Burgundy and entered into the Beauce region. However, conflicts divided the two commanders and their German and Swiss troops.

The Swiss troops were surprised by Henry of Guise's army, and were routed. The reiters retreated to the castle of Auneau and the Swiss decided to negotiate with the royal troops.

Notes and references

Jouanna, Arlette and Jacqueline Boucher, Dominique Biloghi, Guy Thiec. Histoire et dictionnaire des Guerres de religion. Collection: Bouquins. Paris: Laffont, 1998. ISBN 2-221-07425-4