Battle of Ramillies

History -- Military history -- List of battles

Major battle in the War of Spanish Succession, 23 May 1706. The Duke of Marlborough, leading English, Dutch, and German troops, decisively defeated a French army led by the Duke of Villeroi[?] at Ramillies-Orfus, near Mons, on the bank of the river Mehaigne in Brabant. This victory cleared the French from the Spanish Netherlands[?], and led to the capture of the cities of Antwerp, Bruges, and Ghent.

The two armies were evenly matched, with about 50,000 men apiece. Marlborough feinted towards the French left, then attacked the right with his infantry. In the meantime, his cavalry got around the French left and attacked the rear of the army just as the allied infantry attacked the front. The result was a rout.