Battle of Villaviciosa

Battle of Villaviciosa
Part of the War of the Spanish Succession

Vendôme (left) presents the standards to Philip V of Spain (right) at Villaviciosa by Jean Alaux.
Date11 December 1710
Location40°47′11″N 2°50′11″W / 40.7864°N 2.83639°W / 40.7864; -2.83639
Result Franco-Spanish victory[1][2]
Belligerents
Spain Bourbon Spain
 France
Habsburg monarchy Austria
Habsburg Spain
 Dutch Republic
 Portugal
 Great Britain
Commanders and leaders
Spain Philip V
Kingdom of France Duke of Vendôme
Spain Count of Aguilar
Spain Marquis of Valdecañas
Habsburg monarchy Guido Starhemberg
Antonio de Villarroel
Portugal Count of Atalaia
Strength
20,000[2] 14,000[2]
Casualties and losses
2,000–3,000 dead or wounded

5,000–6,000 dead or wounded

3,000 captured
Battle of Villaviciosa is located in Spain
Villaviciosa de Tajuña
Villaviciosa de Tajuña
Madrid
Madrid

The Battle of Villaviciosa (11 December 1710) was a battle between a Franco-Spanish army led by Louis Joseph, Duke of Vendôme and Philip V of Spain[2] and a Habsburg-allied army commanded by Austrian Guido Starhemberg. The battle took place during the War of the Spanish Succession,[2] one day after a Franco-Spanish victory at Brihuega against a British army under James Stanhope, 1st Earl Stanhope.[2][3] Both Philip V of Spain and the Archduke Charles of Austria claimed victory, but the number of dead and wounded, the number of artillery and other weapons abandoned by the Allied army and the battle's strategic consequences for the war confirmed victory for Philip.[2]

The battle was largely determined by the Spanish dragoons commanded by the Marquis of Valdecañas and the Count of Aguilar,[4] which far exceeded the opposing forces.[2] The Austrian forces retreated, pursued by Spanish cavalry,[2][4] and the allied army was reduced to 6,000 or 7,000 men[2] when it reached Barcelona (one of the few places in Spain still recognizing Charles' authority) on 6 January.[2]

  1. ^ Cust (1862), pp. 137–138.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Kamen, 99–101.
  3. ^ Frey 61–62
  4. ^ a b Albi 48–51