Siege of Philippsburg (1734)

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Siege of Philippsburg
Part of the War of the Polish Succession
Capture of Philippsburg by the Marshals Asfeld and Noailles (Adrien Maurice) on July 18, 1734 (1838 painting by Louis Charles Auguste Couder)
Date 26 May – 18 July 1734 (1 month, 3 weeks and 1 day) Location Philippsburg, near present-day Karlsruhe, Germany Result French victory
Belligerents
Kingdom of France	Holy Roman Empire
Commanders and leaders
Duke of Berwick † Marquis d'Asfeld Duke of Noailles	Gottfried Ernst von Wuttgenau (garrison) Prince Eugene of Savoy (relief army)
Strength
60,000	4,200 (garrison) 70,000 (relief army)
Casualties and losses
Unknown	337 killed 359 wounded 321 captured or deserted

The siege of Philippsburg was conducted by French forces against troops of the Holy Roman Empire in the fortress of Philippsburg in the Rhine River valley during the War of the Polish Succession. The Duke of Berwick led 100,000 men up the Rhine Valley, of which 60,000 were detached to invest the fortress at Philippsburg, beginning on 26 May 1734. An Imperial relief army of 70,000 under the aging Prince Eugene of Savoy (accompanied by Crown Prince Frederick of Prussia) was unsuccessful in actually relieving the siege. On 12 June Berwick was killed by a cannonball while inspecting the trenches, and command of the besiegers fell to Marshals d'Asfeld and Noailles. The fortress surrendered one month later, and the garrison withdrew to the fortress of Mainz with the honours of war.

D'Asfeld was promoted to Marshal of France for his role in the campaign; Wuttgenau was promoted to lieutenant general for his spirited defense of the fortress.