Lille - Column of the Goddess

Located in the Grand Place in Lille is the Column of the Goddess, a memorial commemorating  the Siege of Lille in 1792.

Goddess Memorial Grand Place Lille

Column of the Goddess
Memorial of the Siege of 1792

 

The Siege of Lille in 1792 occurred during French Revolutionary Wars. As the French Revolution spread, other monarchs in Europe feared it would lead to uprising in their own countries. The Prussians and Austrians, in particular, called for action by the monarchies of Europe to liberate the French King Loius XIV. The French Revolutionaries  encouraged Dutch patriots to rebel against their Austrian rulers. The rebellions failed and the French Legislature now looked to direct action declaring war on Austria and Prussia on 20th April 1792.

 

French Revolutionary Wars 1792 to 1802

 

 The initial battles from 1792 to 1797 pitted the French against a coalition of nations which included Austria, who would invade from the Netherlands, Prussia, invading from the Rhineland, supported by Great Britain. 

  



 

In September 1792 13,500 Austrian troops with 52 artillery pieces laid siege to Lille. The city was heavily bombarded for nine days.  

Siege of Lille 1792

Many houses were set on fire and the main church, Saint-Etienne, destroyed. The citizens of Lille formed 'fire brigades' to put out the flames.

 

Siege of Lille 1792 - Bombardment.

 

The French gunners in Lille responded to the Austrian artillery and distinguished themselves in the engagement. Ultimately the Austrian force was too small to surround the entire city allowing the French to reinforce the defenders.  

 

The siege lasted from the 25th September to 8th October when the Austrians withdrew.

 

Siege of Lille 1792



The bravery of the Gunners was recognised by Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte who decreed they should form a separate battalion as the Canonniers Sédentaires de Lille.

 

Canonniers Sédentaires de Lille

Canonniers Sédentaires de Lille.Siege of Lille 1792

The Column of the Goddess was built in between September 1842 and 1845. It is said that the column consists of a gun barrel with St Barbara (patron saint of Artillery) on the top. The statue is holding a taper for the firing of a cannon.

Column of the Goddess Lille
Siege of Lille 1792 Monument

Column of the Goddess Lille
Siege of Lille 1792 Monument

 

 

 



 



Op Lille - Canonniers Sedentaires de Lille Museum

The Lille Artillery Museum records the history of the Canonniers Sédentaires de Lille.

Lille - Canonniers Sedentaires de Lille Museum

 

Canonniers Sédentaires de Lille Museum



Canonniers Sédentaires de Lille

 

Canonniers Sédentaires de Lille Museum
Tyneside Scottish Branch RAA

The museum contains two 4-pounder Gribaeuval cannons presented to the Canonniers  de Lille by Napoleon Bonaparte.

 

4-pounder Gribaeuval cannon



The système Gribeauval artillery system introduced by Lieutenant General Jean Baptiste Vaquette de Gribeauval during the 18th century. The method for the casting of gun barrels prior to the Gribeauval system was pouring molten metal around a clay core which was removed to leave the guns bore. This produced imperfections in the barrel preventing a tight fit of cannon balls resulting in loss of explosive power.

 

The Gribeauval system cast the barrel as a solid block. The bore was then drilled out allowing in a consistent and accurate bore. This resulted in increased accuracy and lighter artillery barrels for the same range as previous guns.

 

The 4-pounder Gribaeuval cannons were introduced in 1765 and used during the American Revolutionary Wars (1775-1783), French Revolutionary Wars (1792-1802), and the Napoleonic Wars (1803-1815).

 

Canon de 4 Gribeauval

 

 

 

4-pounder Gribaeuval cannon

4-pounder Gribaeuval cannon

4-pounder Gribaeuval cannon limbered for movement

4-pounder Gribaeuval cannon ammunition

4-pounder Gribaeuval cannons

 

Lille - Canonniers Sedentaires de Lille Museum

Canonniers Sédentaires de Lille Museum

The Lille Artillery Museum records the history of the Canonniers Sédentaires de Lille.

In 1482 Lille was under the control of the Hapsburg Empire when it obtained its first compliment of permanent artillery. A year later the Cannoniers of Lille became a volunteer fraternity dedicated to St Barbara, the Patron Saint of Artillery. The fraternity was dissolved during the French Revolution, which began in May 1789. In 1791 it was revived and incorporated into the National Guard. Revolutionary France declared War on the Hapsburg Monarchy, leading to a number of battles which resulted in the Austrians laying siege to Lille. The Austrians bombarded Lille, the Lille Gunners returning fire aiding the breaking of the siege.

Siege of Lille 1792

The bravery of the Gunners was recognised by Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte who decreed they should form a separate battalion as the Canonniers Sédentaires de Lille.

Canonniers Sédentaires de Lille.
Siege of Lille 1792

 The museum building was once a convent. Another of Napoleons decrees donated the building to the  Sedentary Gunners of Lille. The foundation of the brotherhood and the granting of separate battalion status is recorded on the archway gate to the museum.



Canonniers Sédentaires de Lille Museum
Insriptions

Canonniers Sédentaires de Lille
1792 - 1860

 

Canonniers Sédentaires de Lille

During the Franco-Prusian War 1870 the Battalion served as the artillery support for the defence of Lille. In 1875 the Battalion was incorporated into the French Territorial Army.

 

In the First World the Lille Gunners were deployed in the Boulogne and Dunkirk areas. Their role was to defend the harbours and the shipping lanes. Lille was in enemy hands.

 

In the Second World War, the Cannoniers were in an anti-aircraft role in the Lille-Roubaix-Tourcoing zone destroying several German aircraft before the Fall of France in June 1940.

 



Canonniers Sédentaires de Lille
Colour recording service in WW1 and WW2



 In 1983 the Canonniers Sédentaires de Lille became a reserve unit and since 1997 has no operational mission. The Battalion continues in a ceremonial role parading in municipal commemorations and on St Barbara's day.

 



Canonniers Sédentaires de Lille



 Musée des Canonniers Sédentaires de Lille

 

Musée des Canonniers Sédentaires de Lille
IJ and DM 105mm Pack Howitzer

Musée des Canonniers Sédentaires de Lille