Fontenoy, Battle of

In the War of the Austrian Succession 1745, French victory under Marshal Maurice de Saxe over a combined British, Dutch, and Hanoverian army under the Duke of Cumberland on 11 May 1745 at a village in Hainaut province, Belgium, 8 km/5 mi southeast of Tournai.

The Allied army of about 50,000 troops was aiming to relieve Tournai, then under siege by the French, but at Fontenoy came up against a de Saxe holding a strong position with about 70,000 troops which blocked their advance. The attack opened with an abortive Dutch assault on the French centre. The British and Hanoverian infantry then advanced and a general melee ensued, culminating in a sudden attack by an Irish brigade under French command. The Allied square defence broke but they were able to retire in good order, although they lost some artillery.