This city was besieged by the English, under the Regent, the Duke of Bedford, in October, 1428. In April, 1429, a French force, 7,000 strong, under Dunois and Joan of Arc, succeeded in entering, it having been found impossible to invest the place completely. After various successful attacks on the batteries erected by the besiegers, Joan, on the 6th and 7th of May, led the garrison to victory against the English lines, and on the 8th Bedford was compelled to raise the siege.
Orthez (Peninsular War).
Fought February 27, 1814, between the British under Wellington, and the French, under Soult. The French were driven out of Orthez and across the Luy de Béarn, with a loss of 4,000 killed and wounded, and 6 guns.
Oruro.
Fought 1862, between the Bolivian Government troops, under the President, General Acha, and the rebels, under General Perez, who had proclaimed himself President. Perez was utterly routed.
Ostend (Netherlands War of Independence).
This place was besieged, July 5, 1601, by the Spaniards, under the Archduke Albert. The town made a most remarkable defence, holding out for more than three years, but Spinola having taken command of the besiegers, it was finally captured, September 14, 1604, by which time scarcely a house in the town was left standing. The Spaniards lost 70,000 men in the course of the siege.
Ostia (Italian Wars).
This place, held by a French garrison, under Menaldo Guerri, was besieged in 1500 by the Spaniards, under Gonsalvo de Cordova. After five days' bombardment, an attack was made upon the town on the opposite side by a small party of Spaniards resident in Rome, under Garcilasso de la Vega. Thus between two fires, Guerri surrendered.