Battle of La Hougue

Tourville's French fleet confronts a coalition fleet twice its size off the Cotentin. Although superior in maneuver, the French navy suffers a decisive defeat with the loss of many ships run aground and set ablaze near La Hougue.

Louis XIV prepares an attempt to land in England to restore James II. The naval battle was meant to protect this operation, but it fails.

Tourville chooses to fight despite numerical inferiority out of loyalty to orders; strategic retreat toward the coast with deliberate grounding of ships to prevent their capture.

End of hopes for a Stuart restoration by France. Naval supremacy clearly shifts to the Anglo-Dutch side.