This Day in History: 27 June 2020
27 June 1743
277 years ago, today, the Battle of Dettingen began, during the War of Austrian Succession. It was fought between a Pragmatic Army, composed of the British, Hanoverians and Austrians, and a French army, commanded by the Duc de Noailles. This battle would also mark the last time a British monarch personally led his troops into battle, as King George II commanded the British force. When Charles VI had died in 1740, Europe exploded into conflict over the matter of his successor. Maria Theresa, his daughter, took the role upon herself, but this sparked backlash. Several European nations, led by France and Prussia, rejected her legitimacy as Salic laws prevented inheritance of the Hapsburg monarchy by a woman. The conflict would rage on for seven years.
The Allies had retreated the battle as they were in short of supplies, and therefore abandoned their wounded. Unable to agree on the best way to exploit their 'victory', they ended by doing nothing. It was the last battle for several senior officers, including Noailles, who was appointed as Foreign Minister in 1744. Only the infantry's training and discipline had saved the army from destruction; the cavalry failed to locate 23,000 men while many troopers were supposedly unable to control their horses. Despite being an Allied victory, the battle had little effect on the wider war, and has been described as 'a happy escape, rather than a great victory'.
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