Battle of Fleurus

French victory on 1 July 1690 at Fleurus: the Duke of Luxembourg defeated Waldeck and a European coalition through a double envelopment supported by cavalry. One of the bloodiest battles of the campaign, it strengthened French dominance in the Spanish Netherlands and the marshal's prestige.

On 1 July 1690 at Fleurus (present-day Belgium), Marshal de Luxembourg commanded about 35,000 French against a coalition of Dutch, Imperials, Spanish and English led by General Waldeck. Early fighting in the War of the League of Augsburg had been on the Rhine; Waldeck then threatened Hainaut with an offensive move.

Dragoon Colonel Antoine de Pompone took two redoubts on the banks of the Sambre, paving the way for Luxembourg's victory. French gunners first fired on their own unidentified infantry regiments, hence the distinctive white scarf tied to the colours. Luxembourg conducted a double envelopment with intensive cavalry on the wings.

The French lost about 3,600 men; the allies more than 20,000, including 8,000 prisoners. The French captured 48 guns and 150 colours. Waldeck nevertheless managed to withdraw to Brussels and reconstituted 50,000 men by August. William III of Orange then landed in the Netherlands to take command against France.