Battle of Leuthen
Leuthen, Silesia, Prussia (present-day Lutynia, Poland)
What happened
King Frederick the Great of Prussia fought the much larger Austrian army of Prince Charles of Lorraine and Leopold Joseph von Daun. During the Seven Years' War, Austria had won back most of the province of Silesia while Frederick was away fighting the French. Just a month after his victory at Rossbach, Frederick met the Austrians near the village of Leuthen with about 36,000 men against about 65,000. He pretended to attack their right side while marching his main army out of sight behind low hills, then struck their left side with a slanting attack, and the Austrians were routed.
Why it matters
Result: Prussian victory. Leaders: Frederick II against Charles Alexander of Lorraine / Joseph von Daun. Why it matters: The victory won back Silesia for Prussia and is counted among Frederick's greatest victories. Napoleon later called it a masterpiece of movement, manoeuvre and resolution.
What came next
Frederick went on to Breslau, which surrendered on 19-20 December 1757.
Did you know?
A famous story says the Prussian soldiers sang the hymn 'Now thank we all our God' after the battle, but historians think it probably never happened.
Timeline
- 5 November 1757 CEFrederick defeats the French and Imperial armies at Rossbach.
- 5 December 1757 CEFrederick defeats the Austrians at Leuthen.
- 19-20 December 1757 CEBreslau surrenders to Frederick.