Page 48 - History of War - Issue 25-16

GREAT BATTLES

followed to the grave six months later by Louis “WITH A CHILD ON THE THRONE AND ITS MOST CAPABLE
At the end of 1642, Richelieu died and was
son Louis XIV. With a child on the throne and its MINISTER DEAD, FRANCE WAS CAUGHT IN A MOMENT OF
XIII, who was succeeded by his four-year-old
in a moment of weakness that Spain saw the WEAKNESS THAT SPAIN SAW THE OPPORTUNITY TO EXPLOIT”
most capable minister dead, France was caught
opportunity to exploit. Within ive days of Louis
XIII’s death, a large army invaded northern The battle at Honnecourt had left northern sent to Enghien’s nearby army. The French
France from the Spanish Netherlands. The France exposed to the Spanish army, general rapidly marched to relieve Rocroi
board was set for a historic clash of arms. however, de Melo cautiously chose not to and fend off the Spanish, but while he was
In May 1643, Spain invaded France with exploit this victory in 1642. He believed he moving, he received word there were 6,000
an army of 26,000 men and the intention of could successfully consolidate his triumph in Spanish reinforcements marching to Rocroi to
marching on Paris. Their plan was to approach preparation for the following campaign, when supplement de Melo’s numbers. The situation,
from the north east through the Ardennes he would have more fresh troops. In 1643, de already dangerous, was now turning critical.
forest. Blocking their path was the fortress Melo would have been more than conident of Enghien knew he had to defeat de Melo before
town of Rocroi. Despite being garrisoned by his chances of success. the reinforcements could tip the balance.
only 4-500 soldiers, Rocroi’s location was Facing de Melo was Louis de Bourbon, Duc To approach Rocroi, there was only one
strategically important. It lay on the border with d’Enghien. At the alarmingly young age of 21, access road, and it ran through a deep deile
the Spanish Netherlands and was surrounded Enghien was a senior member of the French in a ridge south of the town. Luckily for the
by the dense forests of the Ardennes. The town royal family but an untried general. He was a French, the road was unguarded and Enghien
also blocked the main road to Paris and would member of the Condé branch of the House of safely passed through, drawing up his army on
have to be overcome for a successful march Bourbon and cousin to Louis XIII and XIV. As a ridge facing the rear of the Spanish force. Not
on the capital. Opposing Spain’s army was beitting his high rank, Enghien had received guarding this southern road to Rocroi was a
the town’s garrison and the Army of Picardy, a thorough education, but his experience of mistake the Spanish would come to regret.
numbering some 22,000 men. The French military affairs was quite limited. Before 1643, The area immediately around Rocroi was a
were outnumbered; to make things worse, their he had only seen action at the sieges of Arras small clearing in the Ardennes forest. When
general was by no means a veteran. and Perpignan, neither of which he had been in de Melo saw the French deploying behind him,
The commanders that faced one another command for. Rocroi would not just be his irst he reordered his forces on a facing ridge next
at Rocroi could not have been more different battle, but also his irst command as a general. to the fortress, with a stream in marshland
both in character and experience. Aged 46, It was a tough assignment, as he would be positioned between the two armies. Night was
Spanish General Don Francisco de Melo was an facing the inest ighting force of the previous falling, but nonetheless a French cavalry unit
accomplished politician and ambassador who 100 years. attempted to relieve the town. This failed and
had become the governor of Flanders in 1641. Having approached Rocroi, de Melo the cavalry were repulsed. Both armies now
More importantly, he had already won a battle immediately surrounded the fortress – he did slept in their positions, preparing for the start
against the French in 1642 at Honnecourt, not want the town to remain un-captured in of the battle to come.
where the French Army of Champagne had been his rear while he continued to Paris. While Before dawn on 19 May, the two armies lined
almost annihilated by a force twice its size. this was happening, couriers were hurriedly up in very similar positions to the previous day.

The Duc d’Enghien orders his troops to stop
ighting as the Spanish offer surrender

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