The 18th Century's Bloodiest Battle | Malplaquet 1709 | War of Spanish Succession

With France at the breaking point, and two of history's greatest generals on its doorstep, who and what will save it?
Music from:
B / artemgreben
Ben Hayden
Filmstro
Visit my Discord for video previews and updates!
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References/Sources:
Falkner, James Great and Glorious Days: The Duke of Marlborough’s Battles 1704-1709
1 Jan 2003 Spellmount Publishers
Morris J. Graham The Battle of Malplaquet Battlefield Anomalies
Retrieved From: battlefieldanomalies.com/the-...
Nicholas Dorrell, 19 April 2015: Marlborough’s Other Army The British Army and the Campaigns of the First Peninsular War, 1702-1712, Helion and Company
MacDowall, Simon Malplaquet 1709: Marlborough’s Bloodiest Battle
2020 Osprey Publishing Ltd.
Sturgill, Claude C, 1965, Marshall Villars and the War of the Spanish Succession
University of Kentucky Press
Kronoskaf, Project WSS Battle of La Gudina
kronoskaf.com/wss/index.php?ti...
00:00 Intro
00:47 Strategic Situation
06:44 La Gudina
09:13 The Armies Prepare
11:23 Bois de Sars Attack
17:39 Dutch Attack
20:23 Counterattack Halted
23:00 Cavalry Battle
26:01 Results

[@josesevilla4451]

Inexplicably, the Franco-Spanish victory in the battle of La Gudiña or the Caia River (May 1709), on the Badajoz border with Portugal, is practically unknown or very little valued for its strategic consequences in Spain. Thanks for giving it the spotlight it deserves.

[@thibaudduhamel2581]

A little known effect of this battle is that a rumor spread in the french army that the duke of Marlborough died at Malplaquet. Although it proved false, it was enough to raise the morale of the troops and civilians alike. Nowadays, this event is commemorated in France with the children’s song « Marlborough s’en va t’en guerre » (Marlborough went to war)

[@erichammer2751]

Better known outside of France as "For He's a Jolly Good Fellow."

[@FredericGaillot]

This song is still known and sang for kids: kzbin.info/www/bejne/enare3-abbaFsJo

[@kakab66]

In the song he is called "Malbrouk"

[@autokrator_]

“However, they were tired - for unknown reasons - after not even being shot at once.” Haha, love the contempt dripping through that sentence.

[@FieldMarshalYT]

they retired* but yes

[@MXB2001]

@@FieldMarshalYT It actually _sounds_ like you say tired although it becomes clear later what you did say.

[@blitzcrieg101]

Find it interesting how this and the Battle of Poltava happened almost simultaneously. 1709 changed the world as we know it.

[@NobleKorhedron]

Poltava was Sweden VS Russia, right...?

[@blitzcrieg101]

@@NobleKorhedron yup

[@GayTruckDriver]

​@@NobleKorhedron it marks the beginning of the end for the Swedish empire

[@Last555555555]

the most fascinating part imo is how King Charles XII was offered the opportunity to mediate the issue of Spanish succession, and he turned it down. If he had mediated, he could've possibly prevented the war in its entirety and potentially made allies that could've helped him in the Great Northern War.

[@obsequiouscalumny4981]

Yes. Plus, Bach and Handel were composing masterpieces every year.

[@5thMilitia]

Fun fact. While Tilly was de facto the highest Dutch commander after Overkirk died, he wasn't officialy promoted. This was because the Dutch provinces of Frisia and Groningen rather saw their Stadtholder, the Prince of Orange, in that position. The fact that the Dutch Republic wasn't a unified state made for these kind of messy politics

[@yc2673]

French and English have a common chant about this battle. The one of the English is a very popular folk song. The one of the French is this one : Malborough s'en va-t-en guerre mironton mironta mirontaine... Malbourough s'en va-t-en guerre, Ne sait quand reviendra (x3) Which means, Malborough is going to war, don't know when he'll came back ! Effectively, he never got back ! Cheers friends !

[@paulbantick8266]

He didn't come back because of machinations back in England. Marlborough was the best General of the war. Malplaquet was a setback but nevertheless, yet another victory...Luckily for France.

[@Rings-of-Saturn2]

@@paulbantick8266 He did comeback, Marlborough launched two more campaigns after Malplaquet and both were very successful, the problem was that he had run out of time to move against Paris because the British were leaving the war after securing favorable terms.

[@mario_1683]

I just love the clothee of this era. They looked so much better those days.

[@deteon1418]

It's always exciting to learn about a war of which I know next to nothing in great detail. The quality of the script, audio and animation gets better for every video you make! Fantastic! 👍🏻

[@MXB2001]

I know. Before this video I knew that Malplaquet was a battle thanks to "Empire Deluxe" which has a city named after it and that the war of the Spanish Succession had something to do with "Colonization". Now I know 10,000 times as much it seems.

[@secretagent86]

Heir not “hair”. Just starting to watch it. I also know no nothing of this

[@secretagent86]

Oh dear. I am sure you are presenting a high quality video but i simply cannot stand mispronunciation. Hair for heir ( pronounced “air”). And hag for Hague… good luck but i suggest a third party review prior to posting

[@bofoenss8393]

Excellent video! It is interesting to see how Marlborough used the same tactic as at Blenheim - attacking the flanks to weaken the French center leaving it open for attack - yet the quality of the French troops proved so good it almost failed here where it had succeeded at Blenheim. It speaks to the quality and dedicated work of raising the morale and quality of the French Army. Interestingly enough, Napoleon would use the exact same tactic at Waterloo in 1815, only for it to fail like here, and then the overall tactic got lost in the chaos of the latter part of the battle.

[@CometTheProto]

If you’ve watched the latest video on Napoleon’s Italian campaign, he also used the same tactic to force Wurmser’s army into Mantua at the battle of San Giorgio.

[@RodolfoGaming]

Napoleon was more of a flanking or blasting you to pieces from a distance kind of guy and his center attack only happened because his planned attack on the wings failed or were bogged down long enough before the prussians arrived. His plan was to crush the brits then fight the prussians and heby the time he decides to launch the attack he's already under heavy pressure from the arriving prussians

[@Notteriva]

Napoleon failed because the Prussians arrived

[@gerrytyrrell1507]

The irish soldiers were called " wild geese" .The majority of the jacobite army ,left for France to fight under the Louis. Patrick Sarsfield been the most famous irish soldier to fight under the French banner.

[@amtmannb.4627]

Great work! I like it, that the video is so much detailed and has a good duration.

[@fredflintystoneea]

Absolutely amazing. Very well done. Thank you for sharing.

[@conradnelson5283]

Great job explaining the battle. Well done.

[@jtcouch]

The scholarship behind this series of videos is exemplary. Well done!

[@grahammorris6235]

I agree about the scholarship (since I contributed to its content), but where are the credits?

[@Leaffordes]

Excellent work!

[@xdictionary6162]

Just found this video, thankyou so much! I appreciate your narration. Its like listening to an audio book with visuals. Keep up the great work!

[@hgramofficial8982]

Absolutely fantastic content, it doesn't seem that any other KZbinr has done this on this war!

[@hassanminbaghdad]

Excellent video thank you for making this

[@WyomingTraveler]

Excellent video! You did a wonderful job of explaining the battle with the aid of your graphics. I think I see the influence of Warhawk in your work. The war of the Spanish succession was a very bloody affair. You just picked up another subscriber.

[@ComboMuster]

Excellent presentation. I see this channel growing. Subscribed.

[@DanNikon1776]

Amazing video, you are certainly perfecting your craft and niche. I don't think I've seen the Spanish War of Succession covered so well.

[@BuergerPT]

Excellent material. Thanks so much.

[@AndreevGM]

Amazing video. Thanks

[@emperorofhistory8724]

Fantastic video! Your channel deserves so many more subscribers and viewers. Keep going.

[@FieldMarshalYT]

Glad to see this video's steam hasnt run out, thank you very much!

[@pz3j]

Suberb job this. I doff my hat to you sir. Thank you for this most detailed, thrilling, and elegant history.

[@siggevibes]

What a battle, it must have been both truly horrifyingly glorious and terribly grand 😨

[@raemont1328]

This is so well made! Very Good!

[@dancoles2235]

Very well made; captivating story. Thank you.

[@stonesinmyblood27]

Well done, loved it🙏👍

[@XDspacemanJD]

I've been waiting for this one. Very much the 18th Century Borodino. Good work Field Marshal. 😁

[@S2Sturges]

Fascinating, thank you !

[@nicolasvanhorton5043]

I have just discovered your channel and I thank you for telling these battles which seem little known to the general public.

[@FieldMarshalYT]

It's what I love to do

[@ashercroy4982]

Absolutely phenomenal! I watched every second intensely. You are able to portray these battles as the accurate and desperate struggles that they were. The only downside is that now we have to wait until the next video!

[@FieldMarshalYT]

Fortunately I got a new script writer. He writes for the channel Warhawk and is superb. He also pisses those scripts out like nothing so it's a load off for me. I'm getting to work on the Spanish campaign of 1710 as we speak!

[@alexandercaliat5958]

@@FieldMarshalYT Good job well done sir

[@mahdiziyafati2626]

I literally enjoyed every second of it

[@Zygmunt-Zen]

Great video, really well done Field Marshal. +1 sub.

[@Otochiro1]

Great video thanks

[@vinz4066]

Outstanding Video. One can realy notice how the quality of your Videos increases. Especialy the Audio.

[@Adonnus100]

Great documentary on a massive and underappreciated battle.

[@FieldMarshalYT]

Thanks man!

[@illinoismotionpicturestudi5065]

“Hey this is very similar to that one KZbin series that has cool animated maps and discussed the American Civil War, I think it was called WarHaw-“ In all seriousness this was an excellent video man, loved seeing the sneak previews for this in the discord server

[@csl7972]

Great Job! And this video already surpassed Oudenaarde's views that's impressive.

[@FieldMarshalYT]

All under one week, even got me enough watch hours to become monetized

[@deathwatch5872]

My friend you earned yourself a sub!

[@caiussempronius2342]

Congratulations, very good job.

[@isrisentoday]

What a great video. I've known this battle before but I've never been so riveted. Thanks.

[@michaelcarlin9153]

Excellent, excellent!!

[@HamanKarn567]

Great videos

[@GrudgeyCable]

Loved the video dude! They just keep getting better. Can’t wait for more

[@stevenverdoliva6217]

Well done.👍🏻

[@carthagodelenda9014]

Earned yourself a sub - quality video, sir!

[@anselmdanker9519]

Thank you for your excellent presentation of the French victory at Malplaquet.This battle is seldom covered.

[@FieldMarshalYT]

More like strategic victory but thank you!

[@5thMilitia]

Allied victory*

[@kyriakospentheides]

It was an allied victory. As I am old school, I don't even go by the idea of a "strategic victory", instead I would say a ''near-Pyrrhic victory" for the Grand Alliance. The reason I'd argue against it being a "strategic" victory is that as well is because the main strategic goals of France were not actually met. It was also famously a tactical defeat for France too, so claiming it as a "French victory" is some jest, surely?

[@anselmdanker9519]

@@kyriakospentheides thank you for sharing, I always had a problem with it being classified as on of Marlborough 's victories.

[@romainmacaire6943]

@@kyriakospentheides It is a french victory because the allied forces lost so much during this batle that they had to cancel their invasion of France. The Maréchal de Villars who was in command of the french army send a letter to Louis XIV after the battle saying :"another lost like this one and we will win the war".

[@benjamindejonge3624]

What a surprise, I never heard about this battle till now

[@FieldMarshalYT]

Unfortunately 18th century wars are often glossed over despite their significance in influencing the outcome of world history.

[@unpseudopascommelesautres997]

Elle est malheureusement peu connue. C'est dommage étant donné que même si nos armées quittent le champs de bataille, on leur inflige une telle concentration de morts et de chaos qu'ils doivent sérieusement remettre en question leur chance dans la victoire finale. Malplaquet a presque annulé à elle toute seule les terribles défaites de blenheim, ramilies et oudenarde. En tout cas, merci De Villars de nous avoir sauvé, tout ça en infériorité numérique. Maintenant à notre tour de propager la bonne parole en faisant connaître cette bataille !

[@fredericespie7015]

Merci beaucoup pour cette présentation très intéressante 👍❤️😎

[@matthewkuchinski1769]

This battle seems comparable to the Battle of Guilford Courthouse (March 15, 1781), where Major General Nathaniel Greene compelled Lieutenant General Charles, Lord Cornwallis, to meet in in battle on ground of Greene's choosing. Though the forces involved were vastly smaller than those at Malplaquet (4,400 for Greene and 1,900 for Cornwallis), it still saw a force believed to have been already beaten by its opponent being able to choose a place to fight a bloody battle that would cost heavy casualties (10-15% of Greene's army were casualties, but Cornwallis lost nearly a quarter of his strength) and decisively change the outcome of the conflict.

[@jared6882]

10/10 mate!!!

[@frogwaffle7]

Down right Fascinating!!! Wish i was a fly on a tree witnessing the battle unfold :)

[@jimmyohara2601]

Battle duration would have been more than your lifespan 🤐😐

[@davidmajer3652]

Very impressive work, count me as a subscriber.

[@bernardotorres4659]

What a glorious battle ! The French won great glory , the Duch in second place also .

[@e.s.6275]

BS. Death and destruction being called "glory"...

[@bernardotorres4659]

@@e.s.6275 No , not that ; it is the way that individual men face death and destruction , that is called glory .

[@e.s.6275]

@@bernardotorres4659 there is no sense in facing death for the sake of destruction, and self-destruction. Therefore, glory in this context is nonsense.

[@bernardotorres4659]

@@e.s.6275 Wars are terrible things and very undesirable , but they do occur , and they are unavoidable in spite of their undesirability and their terribleness.

[@FrancoisD-kx8fe]

C'est lors de la retraite Française qu'a été inventé la chanson Malbrouk s'en va-t-en guerre. A Malplaquet le lieu de la bataille s'appelle depuis La pature aux boudennes (le pré aux ventres).

[@mohammedsaysrashid3587]

Amazing historical coverage of that historical matter of Spanish empire history

[@amesbancal]

Excellent bonne narration très bon montage next vidéo I hope the battle of Denain

[@Heisenberg882]

He has already uploaded it

[@amesbancal]

@@Heisenberg882 thank you

[@reynardthefox]

well done...great stuff...the first time my ancestors fought for Britain rather than Scotland

[@2ezee2011]

very interesting

[@thebabylonian109]

This video belongs to the best of the best on KZbin. Bravo!

[@midnightteapot5633]

This presentation is like an Osprey volume in video, and that is high praise.

[@winterbalm]

so romantic 18th century, Beethoven, Mozart, organ music, colorful uniforms, men wearing powdered wigs and makeup, white stockings, three cornered hats

[@MmmGallicus]

At 1:13, funny to see the Seine river flowing into the North sea just opposite of Dover.

[@-MaxXxuS-]

War of Spanish Succession was never forgotten in history... there is simply no reason for such a statement. All in all, great video, thanks!

[@FieldMarshalYT]

Compared to other historical events, it gets very little coverage. There werent very many videos on it on YT before I started making them.

[@-MaxXxuS-]

@@FieldMarshalYT Thanks for reply. What I meant was that anyone who likes history has heard of this war or at minimum about battle of Blenheim or Malplaquet. If you are talking about normal people, 80% of them don't know when ww2 started...

[@CivilWarWeekByWeek]

Please keep up the good work friend your a massive inspiration to so many even those bigger than you

[@FieldMarshalYT]

Hopefully this gave you the inspiration you needed for Gettysburg

[@CivilWarWeekByWeek]

@@FieldMarshalYT Oh it did

[@Briselance]

11:07 What??! This is... saddening. How did they feel, knowing that they would kill each others in a few hours? How did the French feel, as they had cheer Boufflers (?) when he told them "we shall have no quarters and give none"? Truly, a sad sight.

[@timpatrick2109]

I think most major cigarette brands got their names from this war. The Duke of Marlboro. Troops moving Pell-Mell.

[@skiteufr]

Europe vs France... as very often in those times

[@Raisonnance.]

Depuis Louis XIV jusqu'à Napoléon. Trop fort pour eux. 😮

[@archivesoffantasy5560]

@@Raisonnance.Louis XIV, Revolutionary France and Napoleon I. But not all of Louis XV’s reign, France lost the Seven Years’ War and it was Prussia who had the coalition against them in that time. Also for the American War of Independence, during the time of Louis XVI, it was Britain facing the coalition. I agree for Louis XIV and Napoleon though, but not the whole time in-between.

[@TheLoyalOfficer]

Nice work but can you zoom out the maps a bit? It would be more useful to have a larger overview of the battle.

[@FieldMarshalYT]

Yep! Ive kept this in mind in more recent videos

[@tonyhawk94]

The wars of Louis XIV already prefigured the push of Revolutionnary France eastward with the Kingdom / Empire fighting against european coalitions.

[@JelMain]

I love the YT voice transcription of Bourbons - Bull Balls. But then again, the AI voiceover it was transcribing got Cambrai wrong - Cambr-eh not Cambr-aye.

[@theschrotsman136]

What is the drum sound that is used in the intro? It is really good and I want to use it for my own stuff.

[@rhysnichols8608]

Love the cheeky mount and blade Napoleonic wars voice line

[@johndoe-xv3yy]

Goes great with the book "The coronet of horse" by GA Henty

[@brunodragas2417]

Will there be a separate video about the time 1710.-1714. of the war?

[@FieldMarshalYT]

Yes, check my community posts

[@Urlocallordandsavior]

Commented for the algorithm.

[@guypierson5754]

Hey if you google the names of these leaders and locations, you can see a pronounciation guide. It's only a couple of minutes per name, and would really help with your videos, since it's very hard to take them seriously when people have negotiations at "The Hag" 😄

[@FieldMarshalYT]

I guarantee you, you are not the only person who has brought up the issue of pronunciation.

[@obsequiouscalumny4981]

The top musical artists were baroque composers like Bach and Handel. The violence of battles like these seems the opposite of the relaxing harpsichords, woodwinds and strings of a baroque ensemble.

[@oliviervece6121]

2° Ligne : 25 bat, 45 esc DEUXIEME LIGNE SEULEMENT Généraux : Son Altesse Royale Monseigneur le Duc deWürtemberg Général de la Cavalerie Lieutenants Généraux: Auerox, Bettendorf Efferen, Friesheim, Fenniger Majors Généraux :Cheuse, Horndorf, Canits, Sternefels, Darlburg, Dewitz Reysig Dragons 6esc. Impériaux Falkenstein Dragons 6 esc.Impériaux Helmstedt Dragons 4esc.Würtemberg Haen 3 esc. Palatins Hatzfeld 2esc.Palatins Fenninger Carabinier 3 esc. Palatins Fechenbach Infanterie 2 bat Würtzbourg * Dahlberrg Infanterie 1 bat. Würtzbourg * Tastungen Infanterie 1 bat. Würtzbourg * Grenadiers Gardes de Würtemberg 2 bat. Würtemberg * Herdans Infanterie 2bat. Würtemberg * Sternfels Infanterie 2bat. Würtemberg * Saxe Meiningen Infanterie 2 bat. Palatins Sultzbach Infanterie 1bat. Palatins Dillemburg Infanterie 1bat. Palatins Spiegel Infanterie 1bat. Hessois Exter Infanterie 1bat. Hessois Stukerad Infanterie 1bat. Hessois Wartensleben Infanterie 1bat. Hessois Furstenberg Infanterie 1bat. Saxons Weisenfels Infanterie 1bat. Saxons Chur Priz v. Sachsen 1bat. Saxons Vonstecken Infanterie 1bat. Danois Pretolius Infanterie 1bat. Danois Sponeck Infanterie 1bat. Danois Bielche Infanterie 1bat. Danois Milckow Dragons 4esc. Saxons Spiegel 2esc. Hessois Boinebourg 2esc. Hessois Auerox 4 esc. Hessois Cheuze 1esc. Danois Würtemberg 2esc. Danois Schmettau 2esc. Danois Juhl 2esc. Danois Würtemberg-Oels Dragons 2esc. Danois

[@ludsl7136]

Bravo, excellente vidéo sur une bataille mal connue. J'ai eu l'occasion de visiter le champ de bataille en 2010, La zone est finalement très petite au vu des effectifs engagés. La topographie a peu changé: bois et plaine et Il ne reste rien de visible. Un passionné avait créé un petit musée à Bavay mais il semble qu'il n'existe plus. Merci pour cette vidéo très détaillée

[@Raisonnance.]

La chance. 😢

[@ramananrampragash6790]

You mention in 19:43 that in 30 minutes over 5000 allied soldiers had been killed. But that is not correct. It is the Dutch army alone under the Prince of Orange who lost 5000 men in less than 30 mins since their initial assault on French positions. The overall allied losses were said to exceed over 20,000.

[@FieldMarshalYT]

That's what I meant.

[@chasechristophermurraydola9314]

Just saying but I enjoyed every second and minute of this video and just saying but I would say that this battle in my opinion is the Antietam of the 18th century.

[@FieldMarshalYT]

I'd refer to the Prince of Orange's attack on the French right as the "Pickett's Charge" of this war. Definitely my favorite battle of the period to study.

[@chasechristophermurraydola9314]

@@FieldMarshalYT oh okay.

[@lionelhutz5137]

Marlborough: "Prince, see to your division" Prince of Orange: "Sir, I have no division!"

[@Fatherofheroesandheroines]

This was one of those battles you just ask " why?""

[@Albukhshi]

@ 4:00 I'm not surprised: Villars is in charge--a man they knew and trusted. @ 4:35 Any worse, and he'd be hurling the trigonometric function Cos(M)

[@iainclark5964]

I like the factctheyvuse illustrations from the Osprey Campaign series book on this battle.

[@jgirlLVR]

Interestingly, the toilets at Blenheim Palace are called the Malplaquet Outhouse.

[@d.mfrost6801]

I watched this on a train, with sub titles, they must have been done by computer and not a human......

[@olavtryggvason1194]

What about the devastating battle of Kunersdorf 1759 where king Friedrich II lost most of his army ?

[@FieldMarshalYT]

34,000 casualties at Kunersdorf vs 41,000 at Malplaquet. The numbers I used in this video are a bit outdated as it's more likely the French suffered 17,000 while the allies suffered moreso around 24,500.

[@lahire4943]

@@FieldMarshalYT Your numbers are not outdated since the consensus of historians who studied the battle is of about 11,000 French casualties and 22-24,000 allied losses. Only one Dutch primary source claims 17,000 casualties. Also the deathtoll was largely superior at Malplaquet than at Kunersdorf.

[@Abbadon157]

This battle is almost like the 18th century version of Spotsylvania Court House

[@e.s.6275]

Civilisational competition in Europe was seriously cruel and bloody.

[@mattbanco4406]

What do you think colonization of the New World happened so fast so many immigrants were coming from Germany in the low countries like Belgium and the Netherlands because so much conflict was being fought there perpetually for every decade. I kid you not between 1600 and 1800 there is quite literally a major war in Germany every decade more or less. Almost a dozen major wars her foot in that area and only 200 years

[@maxwalker1159]

wow

[@LuqmanHM]

I wished that you had used Napoleon Total War or Empire Total War to illustrate this battle

[@henryjamesnigel]

But Napoleon was almost 100 years later!

[@thomaslinton5765]

ThePrince of Savoy was a Savoyard, not German, much less a German heavy crusier - "You gene."

[@williamreymond2669]

The Allied attack on the Bois de Sars reminds me rather of the Battle of Cold Harbor a hundred and fifty years later.

[@Svarog11]

Cette bataille en France est commenté uniquement à l'armée ( et encore je parle de l'armée quand on était obligé d'aller au service militaire il y a 30 ans de cela). Elle est une référence pour prouver qu'une armée bien organisée et qui a eu l'intelligence de faire une réserve avec la capacité de reculer en bonne ordre peut infliger de telles pertes à l'ennemi qu'elle en deviendrait presque une victoire tactique. Alors qu'elle reste une défaite...

[@THINKincessantly]

I hope this is as good as it looks, with a channel name like Field Marshall it better not be fertilizer 😂

[@SmilingIbis]

No hair to replace him? That's a small price toupee!

[@brandonmireles3249]

Is the War of Austrian Succession coming soon?

[@FieldMarshalYT]

As of right now, I have no plans for a WAS series.

[@theunknownpersonism]

@@FieldMarshalYT what about the War of the Quadruple Alliance?