The siege ended Spanish control of Collioure but triggered a French decree ordering death to all Spanish prisoners after Spain broke the parole agreement.
Key Facts
- Siege duration
- 6–29 May 1794 (approx. 23 days)
- French commander
- Jacques François Dugommier
- Spanish garrison commander
- Eugenio Navarro
- Siege division commander
- Pierre François Sauret
- Outcome
- Spanish garrison surrendered on parole agreement
- Aftermath decree
- French government ordered death to all Spanish prisoners
Location
Cause → Event → Consequence
During the War of the Pyrenees, a component of the War of the First Coalition, Republican France sought to recapture the port of Collioure from a Spanish garrison. The Spanish held the French port, prompting Dugommier to organize a siege with Sauret's reinforced division conducting the main siege operations.
From 6 to 29 May 1794, French Republican forces besieged Collioure. The Spanish fleet sent to evacuate the garrison was driven off by a storm, leaving Navarro no option. He surrendered the town on condition that his paroled garrison would be exchanged for an equal number of French prisoners held by Spain.
After the garrison was released, Spanish commander Conde de la Unión refused to honor the exchange agreement or return any French captives. The French government, outraged by this breach, passed a decree ordering the execution of all Spanish prisoners, and several French units carried out the order.
Belligerents & Mobilization Analysis
Side A
1 belligerent
Jacques François Dugommier, Pierre François Sauret.
Side B
1 belligerent
Eugenio Navarro, Luis Fermín de Carvajal, Conde de la Unión.