| Battle Of Blenheim |
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The Battle of Blenheim (In Germany known as ''Battle of Höchstädt'') was a major battle of the War Of The Spanish Succession , fought on August 13 , 1704 . PREPARATIONS A French and Bavaria n army, under Count Camille De Tallard and Maximilian II Emanuel, Elector Of Bavaria , were advancing on the Austria n capital of Vienna . To counter this threat, the English army under Duke Of Marlborough and his Dutch allies rapidly marched south from the Low Countries to the Danube River , a major logistical effort at the time. The Austrian commander Prince Eugene Of Savoy moved north to join Marlborough's troops. They encountered their opponents at the small Bavarian village of Blenheim (in German, Blindheim), near Höchstädt , Germany . THE BATTLE The Allied army had 52,000 men. Marlborough, commanding the Dutch, English, Hanoverian, Prussian, Hessian and Danish contingents, was in the centre, Eugene on the right, and a third group was on the left — up against the Danube. The French and Bavarians numbered some 60,000. The battle opened with the allied left attacking the French right twice and being driven back, while the French left attacked Eugene's forces on the right, which held their ground. As the French centre (uncommonly consisting of cavalry) was weakened by the need to reinforce the engaged flanks, Marlborough attacked and routed it. Wheeling left he rolled up the flank of the French right, driving many into the river and removing them from the battle. Savoy's troops then cleaned up the remaining adversaries on his side. French casualties were approximately 30,000, split evenly between those taken prisoner and those who were wounded or killed. The allies suffered about 12,000 casualties. OUTCOME The Battle of Blenheim was a decisive victory for the allies, and the French were thrown back across the Rhine . Bavaria was knocked out of the war and occupied, and the French allies of Savoy and Portugal promptly changed sides. The battle was one of the first major English victories on the continent since the in extent and those of the Romans in durability." After the battle Blenheim Palace was built for the Duke Of Marlborough in recognition of the service to his country during the battle. A good number of English streets (13 in the London ''A-Z'') bear the name to this day. SEE ALSO One of the RAF's fast fighter bombers of the Battle Of Britain , the Bristol Blenheim , is named in commemoration of this battle. The Battle of Blenheim inspired Robert Southey to write the anti-war poem "After Blenheim". See {Link without Title} |
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