3,000 French infantry2,000 English infantry3,000 French cavalry400 gentlemen700 English marines 400 men Result French-English victory | 1,000 men 13 survivors | |
Period 1 October 1594 – November 1594 Combatants Similar Battle of Blaye, Siege of Morlaix, Battle of Craon, Siege of Paris, Siege of Amiens | ||
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.