After taking Charleroi, Tournai and Douai, French troops laid siege to Lille, at that time part of the county of Flanders under Spanish rule.

Siege techniques applied by the French military engineer Vauban were instrumental in their capture.

On 2 May 1667, Philippe Spinola, comte de Bruay, the governor of the province, told the magistrate of Lille that it was necessary to increase the custody of Lille and rejuvenate its composition; increase military reserves, fix and enhance capacity; and organize the facilities for poor people.

Louis XIV made a demonstrative attack on the Dendermonde and the Margrave Gyumer followed with a cavalry corps.

The attack was carried out simultaneously on the right by the Guard against the gates of Thebes and on the left by Picardy Orleans shelves at Bastion Nobltur.

The besieged had gunpowder only for 8–10 days, and the town bell began to light fires to signal the Spanish general Count Marzenu that the city was in danger.

French corps openly went on the attack and took possession of kontreskarpom Ravelin Thebes gate.

Bruay gathered senior commanders who insisted on a counter-attack to retake both Ravelin, but the latter asked him to abandon this idea, as the troops were unprepared.

Louis XIV had Vauban, who received a scar during the siege when a bullet hit his cheek, refortify the town.