Battle of Sedan - Definition and Overview

The Battle of Sedan was fought during the Franco-Prussian War on September 1-2, 1870.

The 100,000 strong French Army of Châlons, commanded by Marshal Patrice MacMahon and accompanied by the French emperor Napoleon III, was attempting to relieve the Siege of Metz, only to be caught by the Prussian Meuse Army and defeated at the Battle of Beaumont. The Meuse Army and the Prussian Third Army, commanded by Field-Marshal Helmuth von Moltke and accompanied by Prussian King Wilhelm I and Prussian Chancellor Otto von Bismarck cornered MacMahon's army at Sedan, in a massive encirclement battle. Marshal MacMahon was wounded during the attacks and command passed to General Auguste Ducrot

After an intense bombardment and Prussian attacks from the northwest, east and Bavarian attacks from the southwest, the Army of Châlons was driven into the Bois de la Garenne and surrounded. Napoleon III ordered the white flag to be run up and surrendered himself and the entire Army of Châlons to the Prussian King.

The capture of Napoleon III ended the Second French Empire and led to the formation of the French Third Republic. The Prussian Meuse Army and the Third Army went on to besiege Paris.

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