Battle of Leuze

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Battle of Leuze Part of the Nine Years' War
Combat de Leuze by Joseph Parrocel Date September 18, 1691 Location Leuze-en-Hainaut, present-day Belgium Result French victory Belligerents [1] France England
 Dutch Republic Commanders Marshal Luxembourg Friedrich of Waldeck Strength 28 squadrons 72 squadrons Casualties and losses 400 dead or wounded 1,500 - 2,000 dead or wounded v • d •  Nine Year's War (1688–1697) Bantry Bay – Walcourt – Fleurus – Beachy Head – Staffarda – Mons – Cuneo – Leuze – 1st Namur – Barfleur – La Hogue – Steenkirk – Lagos – Landen – Marsaglia – Charleroi – Brest – Torroella – 2nd Namur – Brussels - Barcelona

The Battle of Leuze took place on September 18, 1691, and was a famous French cavalry victory in the Nine Years' War, against a superior allied force.

Marshal Luxembourg was 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 Waldeck, who was left in charge, was preparing to retire into winter quarters.

Marshal Luxembourg was near Tournai and sent out reconnaissance under Marsilly, that told him that the main body of the allied army was moving away, leaving a rear-guard of cavalry at Leuze.

Luxembourg acted immediately. He send a detachment to follow the movements of the main body, and with the squadrons of Villars and Marsilly he attacked without warning. The French cavalry charged, only using their swords.

The allied cavalry was superior in numbers, but could not deploy because of the limited space they were manoeuvred into.

The battle lasted for only 2 hours, but was a complete victory for the French. The fleeing remainder of the allied cavalry was saved by troops send back by Waldeck.

Luxembourg had been in the thick of the action and had to beat off an attack directed at his person.

^ 1911 Encyclopedia Britannica, 11th Edition, New York 1910, Vol.X, p.460: "The oriflamme and the Chape de St Martin were succeeded at the end of the 16th century, when Henry III., the last of the house of Valois, came to the throne, by the white standard powdered with fleurs-de-lis. This in turn gave place to the famous tricolour."George Ripley, Charles Anderson Dana, The American Cyclopaedia, New York, 1874, p. 250, "...the standard of France was white, sprinkled with golden fleur de lis...". *The original Banner of France was strewn with fleurs-de-lis. *:on the reverse of this plate it says: "Le pavillon royal était véritablement le drapeau national au dix-huitième siecle...Vue du chateau d'arrière d'un vaisseau de guerre de haut rang portant le pavillon royal (blanc, avec les armes de France)."

• (French)

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