The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1871-02-02
THE SIEGES OF PARIS.


the EBRlish and Allies.
Now that the long-expe 3ted event, the fall of
Paris, has really coma to pass, 1t may be of
interest to give a short description of several
sieges, in Isome respects similar to the recent
one, which the city of Paris has endured in days
long gone by.
IT Is TAKEN BY JULIUS CESAR.
The siege just terminated is very far from
being the first which the devoted city has had
cause to lament. One of the earliest, If it may
be called a SIEGE was that caused by Julius
Caesar when he first came into Gaul. Paris.
then called Lutece, was at that time nothing hut
a collection of poor huts defended only by the
river and being without walls or Notifications
The Gauls had refused any longer to contribute
the cavalry to the Roman armies, as had been the
custom, and raised great insurrection. Caesar
sent his lieutenant, Labienus, to subdue the
Lutecans. This was before Caesar had met his
defeat in Auvergne, and before he had retreated
to Champagne. On the approach of the army
the Gauls burnt their attempts at fortiication,
broke down their bridges, forsook the locality,
and encamped on the north of the town. A
battle ensued and the Gauls were routed.
THE sIEGEs OF THE NoRTHMEN.
The city of Lutece became the favorite of
Julian the Apostate, and in the year 356 that
monarch cleared the city and vicinity of the
great numbers of German barbarians who had
Oyerrun 1t for five years. The Danes in parti-
cular were very rapacious, and in the ninth CEN
tury they came down in great hordes. In the
year S43 the Danes, fresh from the spelling of
the saracens in Spain and the burning of
Nantes, came upon Paris. Then the river was
wider and had but two bridges There was but
one gate to the city, and the buildings after
wards historical as monasteries and public
buildings were then fortresses and strongholds.
To defend the city Charles the Bald gathered his
army together at St Denis before the abbey
afterwards st. German des Pres. Contrary to
the expectations the Danes did not attack, but
spread themselves over and ravaged the coun-
try. The terrified citizens abandoned the city and
the Danes entered it on Easter-eve. But the
riches which they expected to find had been
removed, and they took only the iron gates and
the beams of the roof of st. Germain as trophies
to King Eric. When sickness seized the Danish
army it was agreed that on the payment by the
Emperor Charles of the large subsidy of seven
thousand pounds by weight of pure silver
the conquering armies should retire.
But in the year S57 these barbarians were
again on hand. They then destroyed most of
the monasteries which they had before plum
dered. They burned st. Denis and took pri-
soner the abbot, grandson of Charlemagne
demanding heavy ransom. Only Notre Dame
Qhen St. Etienne) and st. Germain des Pres
escaped. The tombs of the Merovingian kings
were broken open and the bones of Clovis were
| scattered.
The unsatisfed pirates were again before Paris
in SS5. Rollo was then the leader and the fleet
that covered the Seine for two leagues and
| which contained forty thousand men, was COM
manded by Sigfried. Paris was defended by
Eudes son of the Count of Paris. The city was
well fortified, and temporary bridge stopped
| the passage of the vessels. A treaty having been
refused by the Parisians, the Danes tried to
storm the Grand Chatelet and wounded Bishop
Ganzelaine. The siege was continued for four
years, but the Northmen made no great head
way. swelling of the river damaged the
bridge and allowed the vessels to pass, but it
was repaired by the same bishop, who also sunk
some five ships which were sent against it. But
the Danes captured a tower defended by the
bishop and killed its defenders, all but the
bishop himself, who died of vexation. The Em-
peror sent an army to raise the siege, but the
Danes captured and killed its leader, Count
Henry. Charles the Emperor himself came to
the rescue in the end, and gave as a subsidy
fourteen hundred silver marks and Burgundy,
which had revoted The Danes stayed about
Paris for nearly two years afterwards, until all
the subsidy money had been paid.
BEsIEGED BY THE GERMANS.
After this Paris had nearly centurys rest,
until the year 978, when the Emperor Ohio of
Germany with sixty thousand men attacked the
city, then governed by Lothaire one of the last
of the Carlovipgians. The French refused to
fight, and the Emperor had an easy conquest
ENGLAND THE AGGREssoR.
Paris was again in trouble during the long
wars between England aud France in the reign
of Edward III. These wars we're caused by
Edwards claiming the French throne on the
death of Charles " as the nephew of that
monarch, ignoring the salic law concerning the
succession of women, which prevented his
mother from having any right. The English
under Edward landed at La Hague in 1916, aud
after pillaging Normandy advanced on Paris.
The city was not then enclosed. The King
abandoned it to its Inhabitants, and the trouble
ended with the great English victory at Crecy.
Paris was entirely enclosed for the first time,
in 1857 with wall and a ditch, the Provost of
Paris employing three hundred masons for
whole year. The Notifications we're tested i'm
medately upon their completion. The Duke of
Normandy, Regent of France, attempted to
regain the city, and laid siege to it. 1t was de-
Tended by the King of Navarro and some
English archers. After peace was proclaimed
the Provost continued 10 intrigue for the Kisg
of Navarro, who remained at st. Denis and
allowed his English followers and soldiers to
riot in The city, where at one time sixty of them
were killed in one afray. The citizens being
disposed to retaliate, armed themselves, set
upon the English, and killed six hundred of
them. The Provost at last planning to let in
the English for the purpose of sacking the city,
and of killing all the adherents of the Regent,