Editing Cambrai (section)

====The annexation by France====
In 1672, [[Franco-Dutch War|hostilities]] resumed against the Protestant Republic of the Netherlands and continued in the following years. In 1676, [[Louis XIV of France|Louis XIV]], in an effort to "safeguard the tranquility of his borders for ever" ("''assurer à jamais le repos de ses frontières''"), focused most of his efforts against Spain and occupied [[Condé-sur-l'Escaut|Condé]] and [[Bouchain]]. On 17 March 1677, the French troops [[Siege of Valenciennes (1676–77)|stormed Valenciennes]] and moved toward Cambrai, the strongest place of the Netherlands,<ref group=b>p.147</ref> which was reached on 20 March.<ref>Pierrard, 1978, p.217</ref> On 22 March, Louis XIV was in the city in person.<ref group=b>p.149</ref> On 2 April, the French invested in a part of the place. By 5 April, the city surrendered, given the same benefits as Lille in 1667,<ref group="b" name="p.150"/> but the Spanish garrison took refuge in the [[citadel]] and the siege continued until 17 April. After [[Siege of Cambrai (1677)|29 days of siege]] the king made his entry into the city, on 19 April, Easter Monday.<ref group=b>p.151</ref> Louis XIV named the Marquis de Cesen as governor, and appointed 14 new [[Alderman|aldermen]] while keeping the same [[Prévôt|provost]].