Rocroi, Battle of

During the Thirty Years' War, French victory over the Spanish 19 May 1643 at Rocroi, a French fortified town 3 km/2 mi from the Belgian frontier. Their defeat marked the beginning of the decline of Spanish military power in the war.

The duc d'Enghien (later known as the Great Condé) led a French force of 22,000 troops to relieve the town from the siege being laid by an army of 27,000 Spanish troops. The French left wing and centre fared badly, but the Spanish failed to follow up their advantage. The French cavalry on the right wing routed their opponents, rode round the Spanish centre to the opposite wing, and then charged the Spanish infantry. After four assaults they broke the Spanish line and routed them, the Spanish leaving 8,000 dead and 6,000 prisoners. French losses were about 2,000 killed and 2,000 wounded.