Battle of Seneffe

Battle of Seneffe
Part of the Franco-Dutch War
The Duke of Enghien saving his father, the Grand Condé at the battle of Seneffe: painting from 1786 by Bénigne Gagneraux
Date 11 August 1674 Location near Seneffe, present-day Belgium Result Tactical French victory; Allies retreat to fortified positions
Belligerents
France	Dutch Republic Holy Roman Empire Spain
Commanders and leaders
Prince de Condé	William III of Orange
Strength
30,000 infantry 14,200 cavalry 60 guns	40,000 infantry 22,000 cavalry ~70 guns
Casualties and losses
8,000 dead, wounded, or captured	11,000 dead, 7,000 wounded, 1,000 captured

The Battle of Seneffe was fought on 11 August 1674 between French army under the command of Louis II de Bourbon, Prince de Condé and the Dutch-German-Spanish army under William III of Orange.

During the Franco-Dutch War, William III commanded a Dutch-German-Spanish army through the southern Netherlands into the territory of Northern France. France defended this area with an army under Louis II de Bourbon, Prince de Condé. For five weeks the two armies manoeuvred without getting into combat with each other. On the 10th of August, William III decided to head for Paris in order to force the enemy into fighting.

Condé sent a detachment of about 500 horsemen to keep the Dutch vanguard busy near the village of Seneffe, blocking the advance of William. In the meantime, Condé tried to surround the 60,000 allied troops with the 45,000 men at his disposal.

The horsemen managed to keep the Dutch vanguard busy, but the envelopment of the main allied force failed. After ten hours Condé had 8,000 dead or wounded and William - 11,000, with the allied troops retreating from the battlefield.

Reception of the Grand Condé at Versailles following his victory at Seneffe. Condé advances towards Louis XIV in a respectful manner with laurel wreaths on his path, while captured enemy flags are displayed on both sides of the stairs. It marked the end of Condé's exile, following his participation to the Fronde.

References

• Lynn, John A. The Wars of Louis XIV, 1667–1714. Longman, (1999). ISBN 0-582-05629-2