Battle of Leuze

Last updated
Battle of Leuze
Part of the Nine Years' War
Combat de Leuze, 18 September 1691.jpg
Combat de Leuze by Joseph Parrocel
Date18 September 1691
Location
Leuze-en-Hainaut, present-day Belgium
Result French victory [1] [2] [3]
Belligerents
Royal Standard of the King of France.svg  France Statenvlag.svg  Dutch Republic
Flag of England.svg  England
Flag of Scotland.svg  Scotland
Commanders and leaders
Royal Standard of the King of France.svg Duke of Luxembourg
Royal Standard of the King of France.svg Villars
Statenvlag.svg Count of Waldeck
Statenvlag.svg Count of Tilly
Statenvlag.svg Prince of Nassau-Usingen
Statenvlag.svg Lord Overkirk
Strength
28 squadrons (about 4,000 men) 72 squadrons (about 12,000 men)
Casualties and losses
400 [4] -700 [5] killed or wounded 1,500-2,000 killed, wounded or missing [6] [1]

The Battle of Leuze was a minor Cavalry engagement of the Nine Years' War that took place on 18 September 1691 between a detachment of French and a superior Allied force.

Contents

Marshal Luxembourg had been informed that William III of Orange had left for England, in the supposition that the campaign of 1691 was at its end. He was also informed that Marshal Waldeck, who was left in charge, was preparing to retire into winter quarters.

Luxembourg was near Tournai and sent out a reconnaissance under Marsilly, from whom he learned that the main body of the Allied army was retreating, leaving a rear-guard of cavalry, consisting of just 3,000 men, under the Count of Tilly at Leuze. Luxembourg acted immediately. He sent a detachment to follow the movements of the main body, and with the squadrons of Villars and Marsilly he attacked the smaller party without warning. The French cavalry charged, only using their swords.

As soon as Field Marshal Nassau-Saarbrücken-Usingen became aware of the French attack, he turned around with the entire left wing and tried to turn the tide. This further increased Allied losses, because the squadrons which rushed to the rescue did not all arrive on the battlefield at the same time, allowing the elite French troops to defeat them one by one. [7] Troops under Overkirk, however, were finally able to chase off the French cavalry. [8] Waldeck, meanwhile, rushed with the infantry to Leuze, but blew off the attack when Luxembourg saw him approaching. [7]

The Allied infantry, including Mackay's Regiment [9] also took part in the battle but did not see much action.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Battle of Fontenoy</span> 1745 Battle of the Austrian Succession

The Battle of Fontenoy took place on 11 May 1745 during the War of the Austrian Succession, near Tournai, then part of the Austrian Netherlands, now in Belgium. A French army of 50,000 under Marshal Saxe defeated a Pragmatic Army of roughly the same size, led by the Duke of Cumberland.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Battle of Fleurus (1690)</span> Battle in the Nine Years War between France and the Grand Alliance

The Battle of Fleurus, fought on 1 July 1690 near Fleurus, then part of the Spanish Netherlands, now in modern Belgium, was a major engagement of the Nine Years' War. A French army led by Marshall Luxembourg defeated an Allied force under Waldeck.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Battle of Denain</span> 1712 battle

The Battle of Denain was fought on 24 July 1712 as part of the War of the Spanish Succession. It resulted in a French victory, under Marshal Villars, against Dutch and Austrian forces, under Prince Eugene of Savoy.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Battle of Seneffe</span> 1674 battle during the Franco-Dutch War

The Battle of Seneffe took place on 11 August 1674 during the Franco-Dutch War, near Seneffe in Belgium, then part of the Spanish Netherlands. A French army commanded by Condé and a combined Dutch, Imperial, and Spanish force under William of Orange. One of the bloodiest battles of the war, over 20% of those engaged on both sides became casualties, and the result is disputed.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Battle of Steenkerque</span> 1692 conflict in the Nine Years War

The Battle of Steenkerque, also known as Steenkerke, Steenkirk, Steynkirk or Steinkirk was fought on 3 August 1692, during the Nine Years' War, near Steenkerque, then part of the Spanish Netherlands but now in modern Belgium. A French force under Marshal François-Henri de Montmorency, duc de Luxembourg, repulsed a surprise attack by an Allied army led by William of Orange. After several hours of heavy fighting, the Allies were forced to retreat, although a French counterattack proved fruitless.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">François-Henri de Montmorency, duc de Luxembourg</span> French general (1628–1695)

François Henri de Montmorency-Bouteville, Duke of Piney-Luxembourg, commonly known as Luxembourg, and nicknamed "The Upholsterer of Notre-Dame", was a French general and Marshal of France. A comrade and successor of the Great Condé, he was one of the most accomplished military commanders of the early modern period and is particularly noted for his exploits in the Franco-Dutch War and War of the Grand Alliance. Not imposing physically, as he was a slight man and hunchbacked, Luxembourg was nonetheless one of France's greatest generals.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Battle of Landen</span> 1693 battle of the Nine Years War

The Battle of Landen, also known as Battle of Neerwinden took place on 29 July 1693, during the Nine Years' War near Landen, then in the Spanish Netherlands, now part of Belgium. A French army under Marshal Luxembourg defeated an Allied force led by William III.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Battle of Cassel (1677)</span> 1677 battle during the Franco-Dutch War

The Battle of Cassel, also known as the Battle of Peene, took place on 11 April 1677 during the Franco-Dutch War, near Cassel, 15 km (9 mi) west of Saint-Omer. A French army commanded by the duc de Luxembourg defeated a combined Dutch–Spanish force under William of Orange.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Battle of Saint-Denis (1678)</span> 1678 battle

The Battle of Saint-Denis was the last major action of the 1672 to 1678 Franco-Dutch War. It took place on 14 August 1678, four days after Louis XIV of France had agreed the Treaty of Nijmegen with the Dutch Republic, but before he finalised terms with Spain. The Dutch and Spanish initiated the battle to prevent the French capturing the Spanish-held town of Mons, then on the border between France and the Spanish Netherlands. The result was disputed, as both sides claimed victory.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Battle of Almenar</span> 1710 battle

The Battle of Almenar also referred to as Almenara was a battle in the Iberian theatre of the War of the Spanish Succession.

The Battle of Walcourt was fought on 25 August 1689 during the Nine Years' War. The action took place near the ancient walled town of Walcourt near Charleroi in the Spanish Netherlands, and brought to a close a summer of uneventful marching, manoeuvring, and foraging. The battle was a success for the Grand Alliance – the only significant engagement in the theatre during the campaign of 1689.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Siege of Namur (1692)</span> 1692 battle of the Nine Years War

The siege of Namur, 25 May–30 June 1692, was a major engagement of the Nine Years' War, and was part of the French grand plan to defeat the forces of the Grand Alliance and bring a swift conclusion to the war. Namur, sitting on the confluence of the Meuse and Sambre rivers, was a considerable fortress, and was a significant political and military asset. French forces, guided by Vauban, forced the town's surrender on 5 June, but the citadel, staunchly defended by Menno van Coehoorn, managed to hold on until 30 June before capitulating, bringing an end to the 36-day siege. Concerned that King William III planned to recapture the stronghold, King Louis XIV subsequently ordered his commander-in-chief, the duc de Luxembourg, to join battle with the Allies in the field, resulting in the bloody Battle of Steenkerque on 3 August.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Frederik Johan van Baer</span> Dutch States Army officer

Frederik Johan van Baer, Lord of Slangenburg was a Dutch States Army officer. He served under William of Orange in the Franco-Dutch War and Nine Years' War. He was to become a controversial figure for his role in the War of the Spanish Succession. While a talented general, he possessed a very difficult character. Slangenburg was often at odds with his fellow generals, especially the Allied commander-in-chief, the Duke of Marlborough. The hero status he acquired as a result of his conduct in the Battle of Ekeren couldn't prevent his eventual dismissal during the 1705 campaign. Leading writer Thomas Lediard to remark that Slangenburg: lost by his tongue what he had gained by his sword.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Siege of Mons (1691)</span> 1691 battle of the Nine Years War

The siege of Mons, 15 March – 10 April 1691, was a major operation fought during the Nine Years' War, and was the main French objective for the 1691 campaign in the Spanish Netherlands. The city was besieged and captured before the normal commencement of the campaigning season with minimal losses. The outcome was not in doubt, but in a conflict dominated by siege warfare, neither the French army of King Louis XIV, nor the forces of the Grand Alliance under King William III, could bring about a decisive battle. After the siege the duc de Boufflers bombarded the neutral city of Liège, whilst the duc de Luxembourg captured Halle, and scored a minor victory against the Prince of Waldeck at the Battle of Leuze in September. Strategically, however, little had changed in the war, and both combatants returned to winter quarters at the end of the campaigning season.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Siege of Valenciennes (1676–1677)</span> French victory in the Franco-Dutch War

The siege of Valenciennes took place from 28 February to 17 March 1677, during the Franco-Dutch War, when Valenciennes, then in the Spanish Netherlands, was attacked by a French army under the duc de Luxembourg.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Siege of Cambrai (1677)</span> Battle of the Franco-Dutch War

The siege of Cambrai took place from 20 March to 19 April 1677 during the 1672–1678 Franco-Dutch War; then part of the Spanish Netherlands, it was invested by a French army under the duc de Luxembourg. Siege operations were supervised by the military engineer Vauban; Louis XIV was nominally in command but played little part in operations.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hans Willem van Aylva</span> Dutch military officer

Hans Willem van Aylva was a Dutch military officer.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Claude Frédéric t'Serclaes, Count of Tilly</span> Dutch States Army officer and nobleman

Claude Frederic t'Serclaes, Count of Tilly was a Dutch States Army officer and nobleman. He took part in the Franco-Dutch War, Nine Years' War and the War of the Spanish Succession and proved a brave and capable cavalry general. In 1708 he became the de facto supreme commander of the Dutch army, and led the Allied forces together with the Duke of Marlborough and Eugene of Savoy.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Daniël van Dopff</span>

Daniël Wolf baron van Dopf was a Dutch States Army officer and nobleman. He was, among other things, general of the cavalry of the Dutch army during the War of the Spanish Succession, Quartermaster general of that army, and later commander and governor of the fortress of Maastricht.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Siege of Charleroi (1672)</span> 1672 siege of Charleroi

The siege of Charleroi was a siege launched by William III of Orange of the city of Charleroi which was in French hands. The siege resulted in a failure for William and had to retreat.

References

  1. 1 2 Gillespie 2021, p. 61.
  2. Zabecki 2014, p. 476.
  3. Tucker 2014, p. 461.
  4. DK 2009, p. 412.
  5. Lynn 1999, p. 219.
  6. Van Nimwegen 2020, pp. 221.
  7. 1 2 Van Nimwegen 2020, pp. 220.
  8. Ten Raa 1950, p. 46.
  9. "Mackay Murray regiment of foot". www.spanishsuccession.nl.

Sources

Deschard B. Le combat de Leuze. // Histoire, Économie et Société, 1996, № 1. Louvois. pp. 147–154

Commons-logo.svg Media related to Battle of Leuze at Wikimedia Commons