Battle of Woerden
| Battle of Woerden | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Part of the Franco-Dutch War | |||||||
_Afbeeldinghe_van_eenighe_Steden_ende_Fortifica,_RP-P-1907-2079.jpg) Map of Woerden | |||||||
| |||||||
| Belligerents | |||||||
 France |
 Dutch Republic | ||||||
| Commanders and leaders | |||||||
|
Luxembourg Feuquières |
William of Orange Zuylestein Waldeck | ||||||
| Strength | |||||||
| 8,000 | 6,500-7,000 | ||||||
| Casualties and losses | |||||||
| 2,500 killed or wounded | 700-800 killed or wounded | ||||||
The Battle of Woerden took place on the night of 11 October to 12 October 1672 during the Franco-Dutch War. The battle was fought a few hundred metres north of Woerden at Fort Kruipin between the Dutch Republic and France. The battle was fought for the possession of the town of Woerden.
Background
When the French invaded the Netherlands in June 1672, many Dutch towns and fortresses fell swiftly to the large French army. The Dutch land forces had not directly confronted their opponent in the first months of the war, except during the small encounter at Tolhuis. However, when the French marched on Holland, the richest province in the Republic, they encountered the Dutch Waterline. This line of defense would prove insurmountable and a stalemate ensued.
At sea all hopes of an Anglo-French naval invasion were dashed by the Dutch victory at the Battle of Solebay, and on 25 July, the Holy Roman Emperor entered into an alliance with the Dutch Republic. He pledged the Republic to send 36,000 troops to attack the lands of the German Bishops. This prompted Turenne to dispatch himself with a part of the French army in order to guard against an Imperial attack. Because Condé was not yet allowed to lead the army again after falling out with Louis after the Battle of Tolhuis, the Duke of Luxembourg took command of the French occupying army in the Dutch Republic.
In mid-September, the Dutch supreme command wanted to take action against the foreign occupiers.
References
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