Siege of Pau



The Siege of Pau (12 May – 10 November 1820) was the salient operation of the Hundred Thousand Sons of Saint Louis. After an obstinate defence of 182 days, the Aquitanian garrison surrendered the city and citadel of Pau, commanded by former representative Pierre Pau, to the forces of the Duke of Angoulême. The siege led to the death of Pierre Pau, and to the dissolving of the Viceroyalty of Aquitaine.

This siege was made famous by the effective tactics used by Pierre of Pau, that managed to lower Aquitanian casualties and supply consumption. The city of Pau had a garnison of 20,000 men while the French had 70,000. The siege took place in 3 phases:

- First phase: May 12th – June 30th, the Aquitanian forces took place in the citadel, while the French focused on cutting the supply line to the city

- Second phase: June 30th – November 4th, the fights were rare and the French armies surrounded the city in order to starve it. The only military operations carried out were skirmishes between brigades, and an attempt by artillery to breach the walls.

- Third Phase: November 4th – November 10th, This phase began after a breach was eventually created by the French artillery, this breach had a devastating effect in the aquire of the city and forced the surrender of the Viceroyalty.