On 19 May 1643 a French army under the young Duc d'Enghien beat the feared Spanish tercios on the Ardennes frontier at Rocroi. The defeat cracked the reputation of Spain's infantry, long thought almost unbeatable.
The end of the tercios
The victory is remembered as the symbolic end of the dominance of the Spanish tercios, and as a marker of France's rise as the leading power in Europe.1
Our article on the Battle of Rocroi covers the battle and its place in the Thirty Years' War. › Battle of Rocroi, 1643
Frequently asked questions
When and where was the Battle of Rocroi fought?
It was fought on 19 May 1643 near the fortress town of Rocroi, in the Ardennes region of northern France, during the Thirty Years' War.
Who won the Battle of Rocroi?
France. The army of the young Duc d'Enghien, later the Great Condé, defeated the Spanish forces besieging the town.
Why is the Battle of Rocroi so important?
It is remembered as the symbolic end of the dominance of the Spanish tercios and a marker of France's rise as the leading power in Europe.
Notes
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