Battle of Ramillies
Ramillies, Walloon Brabant, Belgium
What happened
An Anglo-Dutch army under John Churchill, Duke of Marlborough, fought a French, Bavarian and Spanish army under Marshal Villeroi. During the War of the Spanish Succession, two armies of about 60,000 men each met on open ground near the village of Ramillies. Marlborough attacked the village and the plain to its south, then secretly moved troops from one side of his line to the other. This caught the French flank by surprise, and after a great cavalry battle the French line broke.
Why it matters
Why it matters: It was one of Marlborough's greatest victories. Within weeks the Allies controlled most of the Spanish Netherlands, including Brussels and Antwerp.
What came next
Marlborough went on to win at Oudenarde in 1708 and Malplaquet in 1709. Villeroi never held a major command again.
Did you know?
Several Royal Navy warships were later named HMS Ramillies after the battle.
Timeline
- 1704Marlborough wins at Blenheim.
- 23 May 1706Marlborough wins at Ramillies.
- 1706Brussels, Antwerp and other towns fall to the Allies.
- 1708Marlborough wins at Oudenarde.
- 1713The Peace of Utrecht ends the war.