Siege of Alessandria

Siege of Alessandria (1657)
	Part of Franco-Spanish War (1635–1659)
	; Anonymous, Alessandria, besieged by the French forces on 17 July 1657 with operations carried out by the Catholic and Austrian armies, the latter commanded by the Duke of Mantua, and the former by the Count of Fuensaldagna for the liberation of the said city, which took place on 19 August of the same year, etching on hand-coloured laid paper, 1657 , National Library of France, Paris.
Date	July 19 – August 18 1657
Location	Alessandria, Italy44°54′N 8°37′E / 44.900°N 8.617°E
Result	Spanish victory
Belligerents
Kingdom of France; Duchy of Modena; Duchy of Savoy;	Spanish Empire; Duchy of Austria; Duchy of Mantua;
Commanders and leaders
Prince of Conti; Francesco I d'Este; Gianfranco Villa; Gabriele of Savoy	Charles II Gonzaga; Alfonso Pérez de Vivero; Gian Galeazzo Trotti; Ferdinando Ravanal
Strength
15,000 infantry	;
	Location within Italy Siege of Alessandria (Europe)

In the summer of 1657, Alessandria was the scene of a significant siege that took place from 19 July to 18 August. It saw the military forces of France and Spain pitted against each other for continental dominance. The siege, described in multiple historical accounts as a battle of epic proportions, failed to breach the defenses of Alessandria, which remained under Lombard influence.

"I sing of the arms of France and Francis,
Risen and fallen to harm the Iberian Peninsula.
Great things were attempted, but the boast was in vain,
To expand the ambitious empire.
The Alexandrian warrior turned his shame and fury into tears For the offenders;
Although on his nearby slope the lily dared to take root."

— Alessandro Cassola, La briglia del furore. Ovvero Alessandria difesa; cfr. Antonio Belloni, p. 380