The true northerner., 1871-04-07
The Ten Sieges of Paris.
From the London Times.

From the London Times.
Though the French have made Paris
the largest and strongest fortress in the
world, they profess to regard the idea
Of its being besieged as simply barba-
rous; yet there is no capital which has
so often provoked and undergone at
tack The tisst mention OF Paris in his
tory records an investment. Fifty years
before Christ it was the stronghold of
the Gauls. Labienus, the most able of
Caesars Generals. in that year marched
an army against the rebellious place, and
after crossing the Seine, forced the in
surgents to evacuate it. Before retreat
ing, Vercingetorix, the chief of the
Gauls, burned what there was of q city
But the site was too eligible not to in
vite the building of new town. Like
Berlin, Paris originally was confined to
an island formed by a river, and sur
rounded by inaccessible swamps. No
sooner had the Germans conquered
France than Chlodwig, the leader OF the
invading tribe, reconstructed ancient
Lutetia and made it the center Of the
new empire. During the time his des-
cendants held sway in France it remain
ed their principal fortress. When their
authority began to decline, the defense
of Paris against foreign enemy gave
such prestige to one Of their Generals
as to enable him to usurp the throne of
the decaying dynasty. Nearly 900 years
after Christ, Charles lie Gros, a degen-
crate scion of Charlemagne, found him
self attacked at Paris by the Normans.
A helpless imbecile, he had no choice
but to make his peace with the preda
tory bands, no matter at what cost. On
the occasion of second raid, however.
Paris gallantly held out for q whole year,
under the command of Count Otto, one
of the Kings mobiles. So great was the
renown Otto acquired by this feat OF
arms. that on Charles death in SIS, the
Frankish nobility elected him their
King. A nephew of this Otto was Hugh
Capet, the ancestor Of the Bourbons.
In the meantime, the German con-
querors of France, comparatively few in
number, had become absorbed by the
subject of nationality, and every now
and then had a brush with the old
country from whence they had proceed
ed. In 97S, when the German Emperor
Otto II. was celebrating the Festival Of
st. John at Aix-la- -Chapelle, it was sur
prised by King Lothair OF France, at
the head Of an army of 10000 men.
The German Emperor returned the
compliment, and having crossed the
frontier on the lst of October, marched
straight upon Paris, overcoming all re-
sistance in his way. Before winter set
in he stood at the foot Of Montmartre,
and invested the city. Very much like
the Moltke Of our day, he had to detail
portion of his army to ward off the
hosts attempting the rescue of the be-
leaguered place, but, unlike what seems
to be reserved for Paris in the present
instance, he was abliged to withdraw
without effecting his object. Winter
and disease decimating his troops. he
eventually returned the way by which
he came. There is an old story that,
before leaving, the Germans assembled
on Montmartre and sang a Te Deum with
so vast an energy of lungs that all Paris
re-echoed the sound. Why they should
have offered up their thanks in this
boisterous manner when foiled in their
efforts, is a riddle unsolved TO this day.
The strength of the place having thus
been proved by experience, King Philip
Augustus, at the beginning Of the thir-
teenth century, extended its fortifica-
tions, adding several hundred towers to
the walls. King Charles, in the latter
part of the fourteenth century, sur
rounded the new suburbs with fresh
enceints, built citadel called the Bas
tile. and constructed fort on the isle
of st. Louis. Notwithstanding these
new defenses, the English took Paris
after the battle of Agincourt, 1920. The
L MT tn
ture Paris. 1929, was repulsed by the
English, who, however, seven years
later. were obliged to march out. owing
TO the gallantry Of Dunois lie Batarc
Roval
King Henry ". was the next to as
sail the devoted capital. As he was
Protestant, it would not recognize hi
authority. Having defeated the Catho
lie League at Ivry, March II, 1890. h,
approached Paris in forced marches
and. occupying Corbeil, Lagny, anC
Creil, cut off provisions, then chiefly re
ceived by the river. He next planted
his guns on Montmartae, and from thi
dominant position left the Parisians-
his naughty children, as he .iokingl
called them-to choose between brea'
and bombs. Not less obstinate thei
than they are now, 10000 of the inhabi
tants died of hunger before the tow
opened negotiation with the King. Jus
i'm the nick of time, however, the Span
iards. who assisted the Catholic League
sent General Farnese with a large arm.
from Belgium 10 the rescue. Henr
was compelled to raise the siege, am
only entered Paris four years later
when he had embraced Catholicism, am
then he was welcomed with the creates
enthusiasm.
France now rapidly increased II
power. Paris remained more than tw