 When Sancerre refused to receive the royal garrison of Charles IX, Honorat de Bueil, Seigneur of Racan ordered a surprise attack on the city on November 9, 1572.The city was occupied by the forces of the Seigneur of Racan but the Huguenots, under Mayor Johnanneau and Captain Lafleur, were able to regain control of the fortress after an armed resistance lasting 17 hours.After massing a large army of 7,000 men, Claude de La Châtre, who was later Marshal of France led a second full-scale offensive against the fortress on March 19, 1573.