Editing Charles the Bold (section)

=== Siege of Neuss ===
When Alsace rose up against Burgundian authority, Charles was already preoccupied with another campaign, in Cologne.{{Sfn|Van Loo|2021|p=430}} Charles aided the [[Archbishop of Cologne]], [[Ruprecht of the Palatinate (archbishop of Cologne)|Ruprecht]] against a rebellion, hoping to turn the [[Electorate of Cologne|electorate]] into a Burgundian protectorate.{{Sfn|Van Loo|2021|p=428}} He held peace talks at Maastricht on 14 May 1474, which failed. From 22 June, he planned to lay siege to Colognian cities and force Ruprecht's subjects to accept the latter's terms.{{Sfn|Williams|2014|p=22}} The first of his targets was the city of [[Neuss]], which Charles needed to control in order to guarantee Burgundian supply lines for an attack on Cologne. Neuss was expected to fall within a few days, and many contemporary historians feared its fall would open up Germany to the Burgundians.{{Sfn|Williams|2014|p=22}}

[[File:The Siege of Neuss by Charles the Bold in 1475. Museum Hof van Busleyden, Mechelen, Belgium.jpg|alt=Painting of the encampment of Charles the Bold's army outside of the walls of Neuss|thumb|321x321px|''Siege of Neuss by Charles the Bold in 1475'', by Adriaen Van den Houte]]

On 28 July 1474, Charles's army reached the southern gate of Neuss.{{Sfn|Williams|2014|p=23}} Its artillery immediately began bombardment to breach the walls.{{Sfn|Villalon|Kagay|2005|p=445}} To isolate the city, Charles assigned men to every gate, blockaded the river across Neuss with fifty boats, and secured the two isles adjacent to the city.{{Sfn|Williams|2014|pp=23–24}} Despite all attempts, communications between Neuss and the outside world continued.{{Sfn|Smith|De Vries|2005|p=48}} In September, the Burgundian night watch caught a man swimming in the river with a letter detailing Emperor Frederick's intention to attack the Burgundian besiegers.{{Sfn|Williams|2014|p=24}} Upon learning of Frederick's plan, Charles intensified the barrage, and attempted to drain the city's [[moat]] by diverting the [[Erft|River Erft]] and sinking overloaded barges into the Rhine.{{Sfn|Williams|2014|p=24}}

Residents of Neuss endured the constant bombardment, and refused to surrender even though their food had been reduced from cows to snails and weeds.{{Sfn|Van Loo|2021|p=431}} Their resistance gained admiration from all the contemporary chronicles.{{Sfn|Smith|De Vries|2005|p=180}} Emperor Frederick was slow to amass an army. When he had gathered 20,000 German forces in Spring 1475, he took seventeen days to march from Cologne to [[Zons]], their encampment.{{Sfn|Smith|De Vries|2005|p=182}} Charles was constantly petitioned by his brother-in-law, Edward IV of England, to leave the siege and join Edward in fighting the French. But in the face of the Emperor's forces, Charles did not want to withdraw and lose face.{{Sfn|Williams|2014|p=25}} The Emperor had no desire to fight the Burgundians and limited his involvement in the conflict to a few skirmishes.<ref>{{harvnb|Smith|De Vries|2005|pages=182}}; {{harvnb|Van Loo|2021|page=431}}</ref> The conflict quickly came to an end after an emissary from the Pope threatened both sides with [[excommunication]], and all parties signed a peace treaty on 29 May 1475.{{Sfn|Williams|2014|p=26}}

Charles left Neuss on 27 June.{{Sfn|Smith|De Vries|2005|p=183}} The city had been so badly damaged that it was on the verge of surrender.{{Sfn|Williams|2014|p=26}} His propagandists presented him as the Caesar of their age who had brought a humiliating defeat on the German forces. After signing the peace treaty, hundreds of German soldiers lined up to see him. According to one chronicle, many of them threw themselves at Charles and worshipped him.{{Sfn|Van Loo|2021|p=432}} However, the [[Siege of Neuss]] cost Burgundy dearly in army strength and strategic opportunities.{{Sfn|Smith|De Vries|2005|p=183}} Besides the number of men and equipment lost, this siege also cost Charles a chance to destroy Louis XI and France. Edward IV, after seeing no support from his ally, agreed to sign the [[Treaty of Picquigny]] with Louis XI; the terms of the treaty included a seven-year truce and a marriage alliance between the two kingdoms.{{Sfn|Williams|2014|p=26}} Charles had to sign a treaty with Louis as well, so that he would be free to march south and deal with the League of Constance, whose members now also included René II of Lorraine.{{Sfn|Smith|De Vries|2005|p=184}}