Battle of Denain
The Battle of Denain, fought on July 25, 1712, was a significant engagement during the War of the Spanish Succession, where French forces under Claude-Louis-Hector, duc de Villars, achieved a decisive victory against the troops of Prince Eugene of Savoy. The battle unfolded after a strategic night march of twenty miles by the French, who aimed to exploit the vulnerability of Denain, a key location on Eugene’s supply lines. Villars executed a surprise attack across the Scheldt River, leading to the swift overrunning of Dutch defenses and the retreat of Dutch forces.
Despite efforts to bolster his defenses, Eugene faced logistical challenges, including a collapsed bridge that hindered reinforcements. The defeat at Denain not only severed the supply lines of the Allies but also influenced the Dutch to pursue a cessation of arms with the French. This victory ultimately highlighted the challenges faced by the Allied forces in continuing their campaign without English support and played a vital role in the political landscape that led to the signing of the Treaty of Utrecht in 1713. The Battle of Denain thus stands as a pivotal moment in the broader context of early 18th-century European conflicts.
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Battle of Denain
Type of action: Ground battle in the War of the Spanish Succession
Date: July 24-25, 1712
Location: On the Scheldt River in the Spanish Netherlands
Combatants: 24,000 French vs. 10,000 allies
Principal commanders:French, Claude-Louis-Hector, duc de Villars (1653–1734); Allied, Prince Eugene of Savoy (1663–1736)
Result: Although the allies continued fighting, this French victory prevented an invasion of France and strengthened France’s position in the peace negotiations
Although English troops had withdrawn in July, 1712, during an Anglo-French cessation of arms, Prince Eugene of Savoy determined to fight on. Claude-Louis-Hector, duc de Villars, decided to attack Denain, an exposed location on Eugene’s extended communication and supply lines. The attack involved a countermarch of twenty miles at night, crossing the Scheldt River and attacking before Eugene could reinforce Denain. Villars informed his officers of their instructions at 9:00 p.m., July 24, 1712, and by 8:00 a.m., July 25, the French advance guard had crossed the river. Dutch troops at Denain raised the alarm and dispatched a courier to Eugene, but the French beat the cavalry opposing them. Forty French battalions with twelve in reserve that had crossed the river advanced toward the Dutch and overran the defenses; the Dutch fled.
Eugene’s advance guard reached the battle and was beaten. Eugene had difficulty reinforcing because of a collapsed bridge, so he judged the battle lost and returned to headquarters. Allied supply lines had been severed, and Villars’s subsequent victories convinced the Dutch to agree to a cessation of arms with the French although Eugene continued to fight into 1714.
Significance
This French victory convinced the allies of the difficulty of continuing without England and helped facilitate the signing of the Treaty of Utrecht, April 11, 1713.
Bibliography
Henderson, Nicholas. Prince Eugene of Savoy. New York: Praeger, 1965.
McKay, Derek. Prince Eugene of Savoy. London: Thames & Hudson, 1977.
Sturgill, Claude C. Marshall Villars and the War of the Spanish Succession. Lexington: University of Kentucky Press, 1965.