Battle of Höchstädt

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Battle of Höchstädt
Part of the War of the Spanish Succession
Date September 20, 1703
Location Höchstädt in Bavaria
Result French victory
Belligerents
Flag of Habsburg Monarchy Austria Flag of France Kingdom of France

Flag of Bavaria Electorate of Bavaria
Commanders
Flag of Habsburg Monarchy Limburg Styrum
Flag of Habsburg Monarchy Leopold I, Prince of Anhalt-Dessau		 Flag of France Claude de Villars

Flag of Bavaria Maximilian II Emanuel
Strength
16,000 24,000
Casualties and losses
5,000 dead, wounded and (mainly) prisoners. 1,000 dead or wounded
v • d • e
War of the Spanish
Succession
Carpi – Chiari – Cremona – Luzzara – Cádiz – Friedlingen – Vigo Bay – Ekeren – Höchstädt – Schellenberg – Blenheim – Málaga – Elixheim – Cassano – Calcinato – Ramillies – Turin – Castiglione – Almansa – Toulon – Oudenarde – Lille – Malplaquet – Almenara – Saragossa – Brihuega – Villaviciosa – Bouchain – Denain – Barcelona

The first Battle of Höchstädt was fought on September 20, 1703, near Höchstädt in Bavaria, and resulted in a French-Bavarian victory under Marshal Villars against the Austrians under General Limburg Styrum.

[edit] Prelude

On September 5, the main force of the Imperial Army under Louis William, Margrave of Baden-Baden had taken the free city of Augsburg, threatening Bavaria from the west. Louis of Baden had left a force of 16,000 men under Styrum north of the Danube river, which moved east and reached Höchstädt on September 19. Villars and Maximilian II Emanuel, Elector of Bavaria moved their army of 17,000 to intercept this force, ordering another French force of 7,000 men under d'Usson near Dillingen to attack from the rear.

[edit] The Battle

This plan almost failed as d'Usson attacked too soon and his army, inferior in numbers, was pushed back by Styrum. But Villars and Maximilian Emanuel arrived just in time, falling upon the Imperial army, before it could adjust its positions. It was only thanks to the tremendous resistance of the rearguard under Leopold I, Prince of Anhalt-Dessau that Styrum could save his army and reach Nordlingen.

The Austrians lost 5000 men, mostly prisoners, 37 cannons and the entire army train. The French and Bavarians lost a 1000 men.

A year later, the Second Battle of Höchstädt was fought, known in English mainly as Battle of Blenheim.

[edit] External links