Saint-Quentin

Saint-Quentin grew on the Somme around the church of its namesake saint. A centre of textile production and a fortified town of Vermandois, it stood on the northern approaches to the French kingdom. Its great collegiate church embodied both the religious importance and the wealth of the town.

In August 1557, during the war against Spain, Saint-Quentin came under siege. Despite determined resistance, the town fell on 27 August and was plundered. Artillery and musket fire damaged the collegiate church and destroyed part of its furnishings, and its canons found it badly hurt when they returned after the Peace of Cateau-Cambrésis restored the town to France in 1559. Repairing the church and recovering from the occupation were costly tasks for the surviving community.