The French Fury was a failed attempt by François, Duke of Anjou to conquer the city of Antwerp by surprise on January 17, 1583. Hercule François, Duke of Anjou and Alençon, (March 18, 1555 – June 19, 1584) was the youngest son of Henry II of France and Catherine de Medici. ... For other uses, see Antwerp (disambiguation). ... January 17 is the 17th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1583 was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar or a common year starting on Tuesday of the Julian calendar. ...

During the Eighty Years' War the States-General had asked in 1581 the French Duke to become head of state of the Seventeen Provinces, to obtain French support in chasing the Spanish troops. Combatants Dutch rebels Spanish Empire The Eighty Years War, or Dutch Revolt (1568[1]–1648), was the revolt of the Seventeen Provinces in the Netherlands against the Spanish (Habsburg) Empire. ... The States-General (Staten-Generaal) is the parliament of the Netherlands. ... Flag of the Seventeen Provinces The Seventeen Provinces were a personal union of states in the Low Countries in the 15th century and 16th century, roughly covering the current Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg, a good part of the North of France (Artois, Nord) and a small part of the West of...

Anjou did have much influence in the Netherlands, and attempted to seize more power. He decided to try to occupy Antwerp, the largest city of the Seventeen Provinces, by surprise.

Unfortunately for Anjou his plan was discovered. The inhabitants, still traumatised by the Spanish Fury seven years earlier, were determined to prevent another occupation by foreign troops by all means possible. The sack of Antwerp during the Eighty Years War is known as the Spanish Fury. ...

On January 17 1583, in an attempt to fool the citizens of Antwerp, Anjou asked to be permitted to enter the city in order to honour them with a parade. As soon as the troops entered the city, the gates of Antwerp were slammed shut behind them. The French troops were trapped in the city and were bombarded from windows and rooftops with stones, rocks, logs and even heavy chains. The city's garrison then opened a deadly, point-blank fire on the troops. Only a few Frenchmen, including the Duke of Anjou, escaped. Over 1500 troops perished, many of them hacked to death by the enraged citizens of Antwerp.

The position of Anjou after this attack became untenable and he left the country in June 1583. His departure also discredited William the Silent, who had always supported Anjou.
The city was eventually conquered by the Spanish under Alexander Farnese, Duke of Parma after the Siege of Antwerp (1584-1585). William I (William the Silent). ... Alexander Farnese Portrait by Otto Vaenius (ca 1585). ... This article needs to be cleaned up to conform to a higher standard of quality. ...