Timeline

Key figures

Origin and history

Buzenval Castle, located in Rueil-Malmaison in Hauts-de-Seine, is mainly known for the first battle of Buzenval (or Battle of La Malmaison), which took place on 21 October 1870 during the Franco-Prussian war. This confrontation opposed the French troops besieged in Paris, led by General Louis Trochu, to the Prussian forces positioned around Versailles. The aim was to take over the hamlets of La Malmaison, La Jonchère and Buzenval, held by the Prussians, in order to partially break the circle of the capital.

The battle was led by 10,000 French soldiers, divided into three groups commanded by Generals Henri Berthaut, Noël and Colonel Cholletou, with reserves under the orders of Generals Martenot and François Paturel. The assault began at 1 p.m. with an artillery bombardment targeting Buzenval, La Malmaison and Bougival, followed by an advance of the troops. Despite initial gains, such as Buzenval's temporary take and the progress towards La Jonchère, the French had to retreat at night, for lack of sufficient reinforcements to consolidate their positions.

A notable episode was the fight at the Longboyau Gate, where a French battery, surprised by the Prussians, suffered heavy losses, including the capture of two guns. The human score was 443 French casualties (killed, wounded and missing), while Prussian losses remain undetermined. Although General Ducrot declared the goal achieved (force the enemy to commit reserves), the contemporaries considered the operation to be inconclusive or even counterproductive, as it revealed a flaw in the Prussian system without allowing the French to exploit this advantage.

The castle of Buzenval and its surroundings thus illustrate a key moment in the siege of Paris (1870-1871), where attempts at a French breakthrough met with the numerical and logistical superiority of the Prussian army. This site, now linked to the memory of the Franco-Prussian war, bears witness to the military strategies and sacrifices made during this conflict.

The second battle of Buzenval, although mentioned, is not detailed in available sources. The castle remains associated with this tragic episode, where French resistance, despite its courage, failed to reverse the course of the war.

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