François-Nicolas-Benoît Haxo
François Nicolas Benoît, Baron Haxo was a French Army general and military engineer during the French Revolution and First Empire. Haxo became famous in the Siege of Antwerp in 1832. He is the nephew of revolution era General Nicolas Haxo of Étival-Clairefontaine and Saint-Dié-des-Vosges in Lorraine, France.
Monster Mortar used during the Siege of the citadel of Antwerp
A 19th-century textbook illustration of a triple Haxo casemate.
The siege of Antwerp took place after fighting in the Belgian Revolution ended. On 15 November 1832, the French Armée du Nord under Marshal Gérard began to lay siege to the Dutch troops there under David Chassé. The siege ended on 23 December 1832. The French had agreed with the Belgian rebels that the latter would not participate in the battle.
Siege of the citadel of Antwerp, December 22, 1832
French Engineer Corps during the Siege of Antwerp
The citadel of Antwerp after its capture by the French army