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Dutch and English troops occupy Liège

The capture of Liège took place between 13 and 31 October of 1702 during the War of the Spanish Succession. It formed part of the Grand Alliance's campaign to secure the Meuse valley.

The capture of Liège took place between 13 and 31 October of 1702 during the War of the Spanish Succession. It formed part of the Grand Alliance's campaign to secure the Meuse valley. Anglo-Dutch forces under the Duke of Marlborough occupied the city without resistance on 15 October, but the Citadel of Liège and the Chartreuse fort continued to be held by Bourbon troops from France, Spain, the Bishopric of Liège, and the Electorate of Cologne.

After a week of intense bombardment and assaults directed by the Dutch engineer Menno van Coehoorn, the citadel capitulated on 23 October, followed by the surrender of the Chartreuse on 31 October. The victory resulted in the capture of several thousand French troops and secured Allied control of the Meuse region.

Historical Significance

The capture of Liège took place between 13 and 31 October of 1702 during the War of the Spanish Succession.

Events Before

  1. William Penn presents the Charter of Privileges, guaranteeing religious freedom for the colony of Pennsylvania

    William Penn presents the Charter of Privileges, guaranteeing religious freedom for the colony of Pennsylvania

  2. Frisia & Groningen (Netherlands) begin use of Gregorian calendar

    Frisia & Groningen (Netherlands) begin use of Gregorian calendar

  3. Frederick I and Sophie Charlotte of Hanover crowned king and queen of Prussia

    Sophia Dorothea of Hanover (26 March [O.S. 16 March] 1687 – 28 June 1757; German: Sophie Dorothea von Hannover) was Queen in Prussia and Electress of Brandenburg during the reign of her husband, King...

  4. France, Cologne & Bavaria sign alliance

    The Grand Alliance was signed on 20 December 1689 by William III, King of England and Scotland, and Leopold I, Holy Roman Emperor.

  5. The War of the Spanish Succession begins

    The War of the Spanish Succession was a European great power conflict, fought between 1701 and 1714.

Events After

  1. Saint Petersburg (Leningrad) is founded by Russian Tsar Peter the Great

    Saint Petersburg, formerly known as Petrograd (Петроград) and later Leningrad (Ленинград), is the second-largest city in Russia, after Moscow, the nation's capital.

  2. Edirne Incident: Turkish army ousts Sultan Mustafa II, replacing him with his brother Ahmed III, reducing the power of t

    Edirne Incident: Turkish army ousts Sultan Mustafa II, replacing him with his brother Ahmed III, reducing the power of the Sultan

  3. Genroku earthquake off the coast of Japan near Edo (modern-day Tokyo) kills thousands and triggers a large tsunami that

    Genroku earthquake off the coast of Japan near Edo (modern-day Tokyo) kills thousands and triggers a large tsunami that kills thousands more

  4. Akō incident: 46 of the 47 surviving Ronin commit seppuku (ritual suicide) as recompense for avenging their master's dea

    Akō incident: 46 of the 47 surviving Ronin commit seppuku (ritual suicide) as recompense for avenging their master's death in Edo

  5. Battle of Pułtusk: Swedish army defeats a Saxon-led force during the Great Northern War

    In the Great Northern War (1700–1721) a coalition led by Russia successfully contested the supremacy of Sweden in Northern, Central and Eastern Europe.

More from the 1700s

Protestant Western Europe, except England, begins to use the Gregorian calendar

The Gregorian calendar is the calendar used in most parts of the world. It went into effect in October 1582 following the papal bull Inter gravissimas issued by Pope Gregory XIII, which introduced it...

John V succeeds his father, Peter II, as King of Portugal

Dom John V (Portuguese: João Francisco António José Bento Bernardo; 22 October 1689 – 31 July 1750), known as the Magnanimous (o Magnânimo) and the Portuguese Sun King (o Rei-Sol Português), was King…

Great Northern War begins in Northern Europe between Denmark–Norway, Saxony, Russia, and the Swedish Empire

Great Northern War begins in Northern Europe between Denmark–Norway, Saxony, Russia, and the Swedish Empire

Queen Anne of England knights scientist Isaac Newton at Trinity College, Cambridge

Sir Isaac Newton (4 January [O.S. 25 December] 1643 – 31 March [O.S. 20 March] 1727) was an English polymath who was a mathematician, physicist, astronomer, alchemist, theologian, author and…

Frequently Asked Questions

What happened on October 13, 1702?
The capture of Liège took place between 13 and 31 October of 1702 during the War of the Spanish Succession. It formed part of the Grand Alliance's campaign to secure the Meuse valley. Anglo-Dutch forces under the Duke of Marlborough occupied the city without resistance on 15 October, but the Citadel of Liège and the Chartreuse fort continued to be held by Bourbon troops from France, Spain, the Bishopric of Liège, and the Electorate of Cologne.
Why is Dutch and English troops occupy Liège significant?
The capture of Liège took place between 13 and 31 October of 1702 during the War of the Spanish Succession.

Explore More

October 13 in HistoryYear 1702