Denain, battle of

views updated May 18 2018

Denain, battle of, 1712. Marshal Villars, leading a French army of 24,000 troops, many of them heavy infantry, surprised an Anglo-Dutch force of about 10,000 men under the earl of Albemarle close to Denain on 24 July. Allied reinforcements under Prince Eugene tried to come to Albemarle's assistance but could not cross the Scheldt river. Pressed by superior numbers, less than 4,000 of Albemarle's men escaped; five allied generals were captured or killed and over 4,000 soldiers taken prisoner. The French suffered about 2,000 casualties.

John Pimlott