Battle of Blenheim, 1704

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Duc de Tallard and Elector of Bavaria versus Duke of Marlborough and Eugene of Savoy: A Franco-Bavarian army under Tallard and Elector awaits an attack by an Allied army under Marlborough and Eugene. Will a successful defence of the river ensure victory though? Also known as the Battle of Second Hochstadt or Blindhem. Click on the image below to view.

Blenheim is the turning point of the War of Spanish Succession and is credited with preventing French domination of Europe.

The key to this battle was cooperation between dual commanders. Elector and Tallard offered each other little to no mutual support other than fighting together while Eugene and Marlborough coordinated both an offensive and defensive strategy. Offensively, Eugene pinned down a larger force with persistent, costly attacks so that Marlborough could launch the decisive attack against a smaller force. Defensively, Eugene answered Marlborough’s call for aid to contain Marsin’s attack which nearly cut the Allied army in two and decided the battle.

This is the set-piece battle military students drool over and wish still existed in recent wars with continuous fronts and modern wars with no front at all. Anyone who has checked out my suggested readings will note that I am abusing Goodenough’s Tactical Genius in Battle for battle ideas. Marathon, Leuctra, Daras, Mohi Heath, Blenheim, Leuthen, Warsaw and France are all featured in Tactical Genius in Battle.

- Jonathan Webb

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