Destruction of Neuss

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Destruction of Neuss
Part of the Cologne War

Great city fire after the siege of Neuss.
DateJuly 1586, concluded 26 July 1586
Location
Result Victory for Ernest of Bavaria
Belligerents
Pro-Gebhard Truchsess Cologne
Dutch States Army
Pro-Ernest of Bavaria Cologne
Army of Flanders
Commanders and leaders
Hermann Friedrich Cloedt  Alexander Farnese, Duke of Parma
Strength
Garrison: 1,600 Dutch and German
Artillery: none
Troops: 8,000 infantry, 2,000 cavalry
Artillery: 45
Casualties and losses
Garrison: no known survivors
Civilian and military dead: 4,000+
<500 

The Destruction of Neuss occurred in July 1586, during the Cologne War. Alexander Farnese, Duke of Parma's troops surrounded the city of Neuss, an important Protestant garrison in the Electorate of Cologne. After the city refused to capitulate, Parma's army reduced the city to rubble through a combination of artillery fire, destructive house-to-house fighting, and plundering; during the battle, a fire started that destroyed most of the rest of the city. Approximately 3,000 civilians died, out of a population of around 4,500, and the entire garrison was killed.

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