Page 51 - History of War - Issue 25-16

ROCROI

The Spanish surrender
08 After a botched attempt
at surrender during which many
Frenchmen and Spaniards are
killed, de Melo manages to secure
honourable terms from Enghien. The
tercios are allowed to leave the i eld
with their l ags and weapons. Enghien
claims his i rst victory in a long military
career. Rocroi marks the decline of
Spanish power and France is saved.

The tercios’ last stand
The Spanish fl anks crumble 07 For approximately two
06 While Gassion’s cavalry destroys hours, the elite Spanish tercios
the Spanish left, Enghien’s infantry i ght off continual French
reserves drive back the German-Croatian cavalry attacks despite being
cavalry and force them to leave the i eld. increasingly outnumbered and
Most of the multinational elements of outgunned. Eventually, Enghien
the Spanish army l ee the battlei eld, orders his artillery to bombard
and the purely Spanish tercios are left in the tercios until they are either
the centre to carry on the i ght. destroyed or surrender.

A sweeping cavalry charge
05 Enghien now orders a daring
cavalry manoeuvre to attack the Spanish
l ank and rear. This is executed under
the command of the coni dent Jean de
Gassion. The French right cavalry sweeps
behind the Spanish lines and causes their © Rocio Espin
entire left wing to collapse.

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