History Principality of Sedan

inside fortifications of château de sedan.



the protestant church in sedan, later catholicized , re-dedicated charles borromeo.

the history of sedan begins in 1424, when eberhard ii von der mark (1364–1440) (son of eberhard von der mark , grandson of engelbert ii of mark, ruler of county of mark) began construction of château de sedan in vicinity of benedictine abbey of mouzon. erard ii von der mark first ruler style himself lord of sedan (fr.: seigneur de sedan). in following years, town of sedan grew in area between château de sedan , meuse.

in wake of protestant reformation, henri robert de la marck , wife françoise de bourbon-vendôme attracted huguenot movement. in 1560, declared sedan s independence kingdom of france. particularly in wake of 1562 massacre of vassy, sedan became 1 of leading refuges french speaking protestants. academy of sedan, founded in 1579, became 1 of chief huguenot academies.

with death of guillaume robert de la marck in 1588, principality passed daughter, charlotte de la marck. in 1591, married henri de la tour d auvergne, thereupon assumed titles, becoming prince of sedan , duke of bouillon. such, principality passed house of la marck house of la tour d auvergne. charlotte died childless in 1594, , principality inherited henri de la tour d auvergne s son second marriage.

henri de la tour d auvergne accused of participating in 1602 plot assassinate henry iv of france led charles de gontaut, duc de biron , 1604 intrigues involving henry iv s former mistress, catherine henriette de balzac d entragues. in 1604, henry iv declared henri de la tour d auvergne s lands forfeit crown of france , led expedition sedan in 1606. participated in 1613 noble revolt against king. henri de la tour d auvergne s son, frédéric maurice de la tour d auvergne, shared father s antipathy royal power. in 1630, participated in revolt led gaston, duke of orléans.

sedan lost independence during thirty years war. in spite of victory on french royal forces @ battle of la marfée, held 6 july 1641, became obvious sedan no longer resist forces of louis xiii of france. in 1642, frédéric maurice de la tour d auvergne participated in failed conspiracy led henri coiffier de ruzé, marquis of cinq-mars; in wake of cinq-mars execution, frédéric maurice de la tour d auvergne struck deal louis xiii, agreed spare life , give him commission in french army in italy in exchange relinquishment of sedan s sovereignty. sedan annexed french crown in 1642. frédéric maurice de la tour d auvergne s younger brother, henri de la tour d auvergne, vicomte de turenne go on achieve fame france s leading general. in 1709, @ request of lord chancellor of france henri françois d aguesseau, parlement of paris passed decree reaffirming french crown s sovereignty on sedan.