Oudenarde, battle of

views updated May 29 2018

Oudenarde, battle of, 1708. As French forces under the duke of Burgundy and Marshal Vendôme laid siege to Oudenarde, the duke of Marlborough marched against them at the head of some 78,000 English, Dutch, and German troops. The French offered battle on 11 July, but were badly deployed. Allied units on the left and right, commanded by Marshal Overkirk and Prince Eugene respectively, pressed in on the flanks, while Marlborough's infantry advanced in the centre. As the French right flank collapsed, over 6,000 French soldiers fell. A further 7,000 were captured.

John Pimlott

Oudenarde, Battle of

views updated May 14 2018

Oudenarde, Battle of a battle which took place in 1708 during the War of the Spanish Succession, near the town of Oudenarde in eastern Flanders, Belgium. A force of allied British and Austrian troops under the Duke of Marlborough and the Austrian general Prince Eugene of Savoy defeated the French.

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