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Notes

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The Battle of Malplaquet in 1709 was the bloodiest engagement of the War of the Spanish Succession (1702–1713). Malplaquet lies close to the French border, about 9 miles (15km) from the Belgian town of Mons. It was here, on 11 September 1709, that an Allied army commanded by the Duke of Marlborough and Prince Eugene, engaged a French army under Marshal Villars. The French occupied a strong defensive position, but after desperate hand-to-hand fighting the Allies won the day at a cost of over 20,000 men.

These were some of the heaviest casualties seen in eighteenth-century warfare and Marlborough’s popularity declined as a result. The Allies had suffered so many casualties that they were prevented from marching on Paris, so the battle was a strategic victory for France.

National Army Museum

London

Title

The Battle of Malplaquet, 11 September 1709

Date

c.1713

Medium

oil on canvas

Measurements

H 106.7 x W 136.2 cm

Accession number

NAM. 1973-08-103

Acquisition method

gift from Mrs M. Austen-Leigh, 1973

Work type

Painting

National Army Museum

Royal Hospital Road, Chelsea, London, Greater London SW3 4HT England

This venue is open to the public. Not all artworks are on display. If you want to see a particular artwork, please contact the venue.

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Artist or maker

Louis Laguerre

1663–1721

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