Battle of Freiburg

Not to be confused with Battle of Freiberg.
Battle of Freiburg
Part of Thirty Years' War

Condé at Freiburg
Date3 August, 5 August, 9 August 1644
Location
Freiburg, Baden-Württemberg
Result Inconclusive [1][2][3][4]
Belligerents
Kingdom of France Holy Roman Empire
Electorate of Bavaria
Commanders and leaders
Condé
Turenne		 Franz von Mercy
Johann von Werth
Strength
c. 16,000 [5][6] c. 13,000 [a]
Casualties and losses
c. 8,000 c. 4,000

The Battle of Freiburg, fought over three days on 3, 5, and 9 August 1644, took place during the Thirty Years' War, near Freiburg im Breisgau, now in Baden-Württemberg. A French army of 16,000, led jointly by Condé and Turenne, sought to relieve the town, which had recently surrendered to a Bavarian force under Franz von Mercy. In what has been described as the bloodiest battle of the war, around half of the French soldiers engaged were killed or wounded, with the Bavarians losing up to a third of theirs. The French claimed victory since Mercy was forced to withdraw, but the result is disputed.

Having captured Freiburg on 28 July, Mercy placed his men in strong defensive positions on the hills outside the town, which the French attacked on 3 and 5 August. Although the assaults made little progress and incurred severe losses, the Bavarians also suffered heavy casualties and were short of supplies. On 9 August, Mercy learned a detachment under Turenne was marching into his rear to cut off his supply lines, and ordered a general retreat, leaving a garrison in Freiburg. Apart from a brief skirmish with Turenne's cavalry next day, they withdrew in good order, despite abandoning their baggage train and several guns.

Nevertheless, Freiburg convinced Maximilian I, Elector of Bavaria, that the war could not be won and he began negotiating peace terms. Mercy was ordered to suspend offensive operations, ceding France the strategic initiative, and allowing Condé and Turenne to take control of most of the northern Upper Rhine.

  1. ^ Schaufler 1979, p. 120.
  2. ^ Schott 1978, p. 12.
  3. ^ Thion 2008, p. 135.
  4. ^ Wilson 2009, p. 684.
  5. ^ Périni 1904, p. 57.
  6. ^ Zabecki 2014, p. 437.
  7. ^ Périni 1904, p. 50.
  8. ^ Schaufler 1979, p. 65.


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