Battles & Campaigns · 1645
Battle of Herbsthausen
Herbsthausen, Bad Mergentheim, Baden-Württemberg, Germany
What happened
A Bavarian army under Franz von Mercy and Johann von Werth surprised a French army under Turenne. Mercy marched through the night and found the French spread out. Turenne could not get his guns into position, and many of his troops never reached the field. The young French infantry fired from too far away and then broke, and Turenne fought his way out with about 150 riders.
Why it matters
It lifted Imperial spirits after the defeat at Jankau. But it did not give Mercy a lasting advantage.
What came next
Mercy was killed at the Second Battle of Nördlingen that August. Peace talks resumed in October.
Did you know?
Turenne lost all his guns and baggage.
Timeline
- 6 Mar 1645Imperial defeat at Jankau.
- 5 May 1645Battle of Herbsthausen.
- 3 Aug 1645Second Battle of Nördlingen.
- 1648Peace of Westphalia.