Marlborough's Anglo-Dutch army defeated the Franco-Spanish-Bavarian army of the Duke of Villeroi and the Elector Maximilian II Emanuel at Ramillies on 23 May 1706. The battle was decided in under four hours, and the French were routed.
A trap in under four hours
Marlborough shifted his forces during the battle and caught the French in a tactical trap. The Allies had about 62,000 men and the Franco-Spanish-Bavarian army about 60,000.1
Allied losses are estimated at about 3,600 to 5,000. The French side lost an estimated 13,000 to 15,000 and 52 guns.2
The campaign after
The Allies quickly took Brussels, Bruges and Antwerp, and by the end of the campaign Villeroi had been driven from most of the Spanish Netherlands.3
Also on this day
1568: Battle of Heiligerlee. Dutch rebels led by Louis and Adolf of Nassau, brothers of William of Orange, invaded Groningen and met the Duke of Aremberg's royal army at Heiligerlee.
Frequently asked questions
When and where was the Battle of Ramillies?
It was fought on 23 May 1706 at Ramillies, in the Spanish Netherlands, now Belgium, during the War of the Spanish Succession.
Who won the Battle of Ramillies?
The Anglo-Dutch army under the Duke of Marlborough defeated the Franco-Spanish-Bavarian army of Villeroi and the Elector Maximilian II Emanuel.
How long did the battle last?
It was decided in under four hours.
Notes
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