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Thought 1744 and the Second Silesian conflict were largely uneventful, the war was still in full force. 1745 erupted along alliance lines as France and Prussia began to emerge supreme. The Quadruple Alliance of Britain, Austria, the Netherlands, and Saxony was agreed early in 1745, and it began to show strength in Central Europe. Frederick II was biding his time for the best possible moment, which came in the spring. Louis XV went headlong into Belgium, so his army was not available to the Prussian King for many months. Though unavailable to Frederick, the French set about to change the course of the war.
Late 1744 success along the Austrian border were soon built upon in the spring of 1745. Because the French were so successful in southern Belgium, Prince Charles of Lorraine marched 70,000 troops to counter further French advances. Louis XV responded by empowering Marechal Maurice de Saxe with 60,000 men in Flanders. British, Dutch, and Hanoverian troops descended upon Flanders as well, while Europe anticipated an immense battle, the largest of the war since Mollwitz in 1742. Soon France was outnumbered; however, the Allied commanders were to tremulous to attack the French. British dallying affected Parliament, and changes in government occurred, which would affect the British influence for the war’s remainder. Other governmental changes also influenced the war. The French champion for the Imperial throne, Charles VII died in January 1745. A new emperor was proclaimed, Maria Theresa’s husband Francis Stephen became Emperor Francis I, and he was hesitant during the peace process. His main hesitance had to deal with Habsburg gains during 1742-1744. Maria Theresa was not satisfied with how negotiations were progressing, so she decided to continue fighting what seemed to be a favorable war. Austrian forces hammered the Bavarians at Pfaffenhofen in April 1745. Bavaria’s ability to continue war was shattered, and it sued for peace. Austria’s success, however, freed French obligations to Central Europe. France could now concentrate solely on Belgium.
The combined Allied forces were led by King George II’s son, the Duke of Cumberland. He met with Allied commanders at the Hague, and then with his troops at Brussels a few days later in April 1745. Cumberland’s precocity saw him dream elaborate campaigns resulting in glorious victories. He believed that his troops could and would march on Paris to end the war within weeks of his arrival. Cumberland’s generals thought otherwise and impressed a more defensive posture upon the Duke’s mindset. Marechal Saxe believed he had little time to live, because he was ill with Dropsy, which was believed fatal. With his remaining days, Saxe wanted to inflict a massive defeat on the Allies. French soldiers were ordered to move upon the Scheldt river deep into Belgium’s heartland. Saxe began to feint his maneuvers, while establishing a main siege force against Tournay. Cumberland and his commanders were certainly confused by Saxe’s feigned attempts. Cumberland also believed the reports that Saxe was about to die. He was foolishly confident on the eve of what he thought would be battle at Mons, not Tournay.
Duplicity intact, Saxe waited for the Allied troops to begin moving to aid Mons. When troops began moving, Saxe seized his opportunity and began assaulting Tournay. Cumberland received word that Mons was not the target two full days after Saxe arrived at Tournay. A further two days dalliance were undertaken before Cumberland and the Allies reversed course. Compounding administrative failures, the weather further hindered Allied troop arrival. Saxe arrived on April 28; Cumberland arrived on May 9. Cumberland’s diary reveals further confusion over French troop numbers, positions, and maneuvers. Though confused, Cumberland was still confident that victory would be his. He could not know that the French Marechal de Saxe was vastly superior in almost every way.
Saxe believed that the Allies would try to advance toward Tournay through Fontenoy. In preparation for the Allied arrival, Saxe fortified Fontenoy. Allied spotters revealed French involvement at Fontenoy, and Cumberland decided upon this news to attack the French position. Fontenoy was well defensible naturally by height and forest. The plateau opened into a large field, perfect for the French cannons to obliterate Allied infantry. Allied forces opened the battle on May 11 through three wings. The British were on the right, the Hanoverians and Dutch occupied the center, and the Austrians were on the left south of Fontenoy. British reconnaissance failed to discover a strongly fortified French redoubt near the forest north of Fontenoy. Such a failure proved vastly serious. Cumberland ordered his general, Ingolsby, to capture the redoubt. Upon advancing, Ingolsby lost his nerve and the British began to wither. French artillery began opening fire on the center through the plains around Fontenoy to devastating effect. Cumberland simply ignored the growing problems surrounding his right flank. The Dutch approached French positions, while the French held fire. At a perilously, almost point blank, close distance, the French opened fire and killed most of the Dutch invading force. Those who were not killed fled the battle. A second attempt was mustered, yet met with the same outcome.
During nightfall Cumberland wavered between attack and retreat. He decided to attack with a sweeping infantry advance. What remained of the Allied army was regrouped and sent back into the fray. The Dutch again attempted to assault Fontenoy, and were again beaten. This time, the Dutch would not continue in the battle. Victory seemed certain for Saxe, who still had to defeat the remaining English under Cumberland. Three lines formed throughout the Allied ranks and arched uphill toward Fontenoy about 10:30 am. Light artillery was employed by both armies, which attempted to soften the opposition. English troops came into close contact with their French counterparts. French artillery mercilessly pounded the advancing English army, and destroyed entire ranks. Yet, Cumberland’s men maintained perfect order despite heavy losses. The British did succeed in pushing the French back, and may have actually won the day had it not been for a third strong French redoubt. British Infantry famously met the French Infantry atop the ridge. Various taunting ensued, and the French opened fire upon the British. Then came the British reply, which inflicted devastating casualties upon the French, who were driven backward. A gap opened in the French ranks, which should have been exposed by the Dutch who had since left the battle. Saxe, extremely ill, now showed himself on the battlefield. He personally barked out orders to repair the buckling French lines. His arrival turned retreat into an offensive masterpiece. The French Cavalry was sent against the British Infantry, but they were beaten as well. At this point, Louis XV believed the battle lost, to which Saxe replied “We must all conquer or die together.” With the British now in the French camp, further cannonades from the uncaptured French redoubts began halting the British Infantry. French Cavalry and Infantry newly organized by Saxe turned the tide, and forced Cumberland’s men into retreat.
Before the battle’s end, Cumberland maintained his infantry’s order, and tried another advance, which proved unsuccessful. Though unsuccessful, the French could not inflict any further serious damage upon the British who had maintained amazing order while retreating. Voltaire later wrote that had the Dutch remained in the conflict during this period, the French would have been surrounded and cut off. He also said that Louis XV and the future Louis XIV would have been killed. Napoleon later quipped that such failure on the Allied part gave France the victory, and further extended the Ancien Regime another 30 years. Saxe took advantage of these failures and launched a series of counterattacks to ensure his victory. The French had enveloped the British, who could not pivot a turn into the French redoubts. Counteroffensives muted any further British strength, and the French soon proved victorious 12 hours after initial skirmishes opened the battle. Allied troops began retreated from Fontenoy in perfect order. Cumberland sobbed at his loss, while Saxe was lauded an instant French hero. Saxe, however, did have his detractors, as he did not pursuing the Allies and inflicting a general rout. Saxe argued that he and his men were exhausted, and must regroup. He proved correct, as the Allies were not much opposition in Belgium for the War’s remainder. Saxe took the entire Belgian region almost unopposed in future years after this decisive battle.
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