August 13 1704 Strategic Context England as part of its commitment to the Grand Alliance with Holland Austria and Prussia sends thenEarl of Marlborough to Holland in 1702 to fight the French Spanish and Bavarian alliance The war concerns France and Spains attempt to join their dyna ID: 527685
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Slide1
Blenheim August 13, 1704
Strategic Context
England, as part of its commitment to the Grand Alliance with Holland, Austria, and Prussia, sends then-Earl of Marlborough to Holland in 1702 to fight the French, Spanish, and Bavarian alliance. The war concerns France and Spain’s attempt to join their dynasties after the death of the Spanish King, himself a Hapsburg, which would strengthen France and disrupt Europe’s balance of power. Marlborough eventually becomes frustrated by lack of Dutch cooperation in fighting the superior French there and favours Eugene of Savoy’s concept of operating in the Danube Valley. The goal of these operations are to guard the Austrian capital of Vienna and knock Bavaria out of the war. The combined Franco-Bavarian army under Duc de Tallard (26,000) and Elector of Bavaria (30,000) fail to defeat Eugene’s army (20,000) before it can unite with Marlborough’s army (32,000). Tallard and Elector remain confident in their strong defensive position, however.
Stakes
+ A Franco-Bavarian victory would threaten Vienna and Austria’s presence in the war as a whole.+ An Allied victory would preserve Vienna and Austria’s presence in the war as a whole while threatening Bavaria’s.
By Jonathan Webb, 2009
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Blenheim, 1704Strength
French
Well
Allies
Well
52,000
Duke of Marlborough
56,000
Duc de Tallard
By Jonathan Webb, 2009
Elector of Bavaria
Eugene of SavoySlide3
Europe c. 1704Slide4
The grassy battlefield is enclosed to the west and north by wooded hills, and to the southeast by the Danube River. The battlefield is divided by the Nebel Stream running east-west, which is a difficult obstacle with its marshy banks, especially near Unterglau. Various barricaded villages dot the battlefield. The terrain makes it difficult for any army to advance and attack along a north-south axis.
Franco-Bavarians
(Tallard/Elector)
Allies
(Marlborough/Eugene)
Sonderheim
Danube River
Nebel Stream
Blenheim
Oberglau
Lutzingen
Schwennenbach
UnterglauSlide5
Tallard deploys his army on the right, Elector on the left; both nearly equal in size. Tallard/Elector agree on a defensive concept of holding the already secure flanks, and attacking Marlborough’s vulnerable main force as it crosses the Nebel and occupies marshy ground. Marlborough deploys his army on the left, Eugene on the right; Marlborough’s the much larger. Marlborough/Eugene plan for Eugene to pin down Franco-Bavarian reserves in rough terrain on the right, in order to enable Marlborough to launch a decisive attack on more suitable terrain in the center.
Marlborough orders Cutts to launch an attack against Blenheim. Cutts’ first wave is slaughtered in an instant although Clerambault overreacts to the relatively small attack by stuffing any available infantry into Blenheim. Meanwhile, Eugene attempts to turn Elector’s flank by pinning his center with cavalry and attacking Lutzingen with infantry. Bavarian cavalry quickly repel the Allied cavalry however.
Marsin
Holstein Beck
Eugene
Marlborough
Cutts
Blainville
Tallard
Clerambault
Cutts renews the attack on Blenheim with fresh waves of infantry, but must withdraw behind the Nebel in the face of abundant volleys from Blenheim and an attack by Tallard’s elite cavalry,
Les
Gens d’Armes
. Eugene fares nearly the same; his infantry must also withdraw behind the Nebel to avoid being encircled by Elector’s cavalry.
The Allies attack in every sector except Marlborough’s. Eugene launches a massive but disheartened attack and suffers horrendous casualties which his smaller force cannot sustain for long. Holstein Beck attacks Oberglau but is forced to withdraw in the face of a strong cavalry counterattack by Blainville. Meanwhile, after Tallard’s
Gens d’Armes
chase Cutts’ infantry too far, they are scattered by Allied cavalry, which in turn overextend themselves and are destroyed; the defeat of
Gens d’Armes
has an awful effect on French morale while Clerambault continues to pack all available reserves into Blenheim.
A sizeable rift develops between the two Allied armies, which Marsin seeks to exploit on his own initiative with a strong attack supported by Blainville. Marlborough sends nearby reserves to assist but still must appeal to Eugene for aid in containing this dangerous wedge. Eugene is hard-pressed but trusts Marlborough and immediately sends a cavalry force that succeeds in blunting and containing Marsin’s attack.
Holstein Beck counterattacks and pushes Blainville back across the Nebel to besiege Oberglau although at heavy cost and commitment. With a disproportionate amount of Franco-Bavarian troops pinned down inside Blenheim and Oberglau, Marlborough patiently draws up his main attack force for the decisive stroke against Tallard, who can do little but wait.
Marlborough advances steadily, the cavalry edging ahead. Tallard assails the Allied cavalry while they are on marshy ground which briefly turn to retreat until supporting infantry stiffen their nerve. Marlborough’s forces routs Tallard’s cavalry and completely surrounds a portion of his infantry. Marlborough then turns to encircle Blenheim while Tallard tries to rally his army at Sonderheim.
Tallard
Clerambault
Marlborough and Cutts threaten Blenheim with a limited attack before Clerambault surrenders. Elector sees the battle is lost and the Bavarians retreat, torching Lutzingen and Oberglau on the way. Tallard is captured somewhere between Blenheim and Sonderheim, trying to rally more of his troops.
Landmarks
Allies
(Marlborough/Eugene)
Franco-Bavarians
(Duc de Tallard/Elector of Bavaria)
56,000
Allies
(Duke of Marlborough/Eugene of Savoy)
52,000
Elector
Sonderheim
Danube River
Nebel Stream
Blenheim
Oberglau
Lutzingen
Symbol guide
Franco-Bavarians
(Tallard/Elector)
Schwennenbach
Unterglau
Franco-Bavarians Allies
Infantry Infantry
Cavalry CavalrySlide6
Blenheim, 1704Casualties & Aftermath
Franco-Bavarians:
Allies:
34,000or61%
14,000or27%
By Jonathan Webb, 2009
The Allied victory knocked Bavaria out of the war, saved the Grand Alliance from collapse, and shattered the myth of French invincibility. This battle ensured the Grand Alliance remained on the strategic and moral offensive throughout the war, although it was fiercely fought on for another decade. Blenheim proved to be the turning point however.Slide7
The Art of Battle:
Animated Battle Maps
http://www.theartofbattle.com
By Jonathan Webb, 2009