In 1595, the Spanish army led by Don Pedro Henríquez de Acevedo, Count of Fuentes,[7] took the initiative, conquering a great number of French towns, castles, and villages, including Doullens.

[7] In the spring of 1596, the French army led by Henry IV laid siege to La Fère, under control of the Catholic League of France.

[8][1] The French general François d'Orléans-Longueville, Duke of Fronsac and Château-Thierry, tried to break the siege by sea, and help the city with supplies and fresh troops, but was successfully stopped by the bombardments of the Spanish artillery.

[1] Into the citadel, the Spaniards took a valuable treasure, composed, among other things, of a large amount of gold and silver coins, horses, and a great quantity of gunpowder and supplies.

[8] The capture of the citadel of Calais was the first military action of the collecting cartons of the Flemish artist Jan Snellinck, designed for a series of tapestries known as The battles of Archduke Albert, now owned by Patrimonio Nacional.

[13] The conquest of the city by the Spanish Army of Flanders, led by Archduke Albert, was a resounding victory, and a severe blow to Henry IV of France, and his Protestant allies.

In the middle of July, the assault on the town was launched, and little more than a month later, Hulst capitulated to the Spaniards, despite the efforts of Prince Maurice of Nassau to relieve the city.