Battle of Renty
Italian Wars (war between France and the Empire of Charles V) · Renty, Artois (France)
Summary
The French army engages Imperial forces near Renty. After fierce combat, the French win a strategic victory that weakens Imperial ambitions in Flanders.
Historical context
The battle formed part of the Tenth Italian War (1552-1556): Henri II, allied with the German Protestant princes, led an offensive toward the Netherlands while Charles V tried to regain the initiative in Artois after the mutual captures and losses of 1553-1554.
Tactics
After bombarding Renty castle, Gaspard de Coligny went ashore with about 1,000 men, seized the Bois Guillaume, and captured the Spanish artillery at the end of a fierce fight against Charles V's troops, whose tercios formed the core of the army.
Consequences
Despite the French victory, the army lifted the siege of Renty on 15 August for lack of ammunition and fell back on Compiègne; weakening the Spanish tercios (~2,000 men) did not prevent the war from continuing until the Truce of Vaucelles in 1556.