After a two-month siege and the stubborn resistance by a small French garrison, the fortress fell to the Imperial army, personally led by Charles V.[1] Emperor Charles' campaign against France in 1543 was inconclusive, as the French army avoided an open battle, and the war devolved into a series of long and costly sieges of small and insignificant forts on the eastern border of France.
At the Diet of Speier, in 1544, Charles met the German Princes and by extensive concessions secured the neutrality or support of the Protestant Estates.
Del Guasto hurried from Milan to relieve it, and d'Enghien, having received permission to risk a battle, attacked him at Ceresole on 14 April 1544, completely defeating him, with the loss of some 8000 killed and 2000 prisoners.
The siege of St Dizier was then undertaken: town was defended by 2000 French soldiers, under the command of Count of Sancerre and Lord of Lalande.
He arrived on 15 July at Calais with the bulk of his army, and was joined by the Count van Buren with a small force from the Netherlands.
Paul had allowed Piero Strozzi to raise troops in his State; the Orsini had been suffered to join him; and the Pope was considering the gift of his grandchild Vittoria to the Duke of Orleans with Parma and Piacenza as her dowry.