Battle of Dettingen, 27 June 1743 (Bavaria)

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The last battle in which a British sovereign led his own troops in person, part of the War of the Austrian Succession. George II, with an allied army of 42,000 English, Austrian and Hanoverian troops faced a French army of 50,000, led by the Duc de Noailles, whose army was in the stronger position, protected by marshy ground and a river, and with control of the river bridges. Unluckily for the French, the Duc de Noailles became bored with waiting for an attack, and ordered his cavalry to attack the English infantry. After fierce fighting the attack was repulsed, and George II led his cavalry in a counterattack. The French forces broke, and fled, with heavy losses.
Dettingen 1743 – Miracle on the Main, Michael McNally. Looks at the last battle at which a British monarch commanded troops (George II), and a battle in which the French skilfully drew the opposing Pragmatic Army into a trap, only for the actions of one of the subordinate French commanders to give the allies a chance to escape from the trap. A good account of a battle in which both sides made major mistakes, and both sides were able to claim a victory of sorts (Read Full Review)
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How to cite this article: Rickard, J. (22 October 2000), Battle of Dettingen, 27 June 1743, http://www.historyofwar.org/articles/battles_dettingen.html

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