The Battle of Denain: The Sun King's Last Triumph, 1712

After 10 years of the War of Spanish Succession and repeated defeats in Flanders, Louis XIV's France found itself in a desperate predicament, facing an imminent invasion. The Battle of Denain tells the story of the little-known battle that saved France and gave the Sun King the final triumph of his long reign.

The Battle of Denain is the first comprehensive account of the 1712 campaign in English. Previous Anglophone historians of the war have concentrated on the iconic figure of the Duke of Marlborough, which has hindered our understanding of Britain's true role within the multinational alliance opposing Louis XIV's France. Particularly, the contributions of the Dutch Republic have been overlooked and misrepresented, and Denain was primarily a Dutch battle.

The Battle of Denain examines the diplomatic manoeuvres early in the year that led to British troops marching away, leaving the Dutch and Imperial forces to confront the French army for the remainder of the campaign, and assesses how this may explain the French victory. The author's incorporation of French and Dutch primary sources allows for a more rounded perspective on the 1712 campaign. Alongside the central figure of Louis XIV himself, four generals receive particular attention: the Allied commander Prince Eugene and his French counterpart Marshal Villars will be well known to many readers, while the Earl of Albemarle, the Dutch commander at Denain, and the Duke of Ormonde, the leader of the British contingent, are likely less familiar figures.