Battle of Entzheim

Part of Franco-Dutch War

Date	4 October 1674
Location	Entzheim (now in Alsace, France)
Result	Inconclusive

Belligerents

France

Holy Roman Empire

Commanders and leaders

Vicomte de Turenne

Alexander von Bournonville

Strength

22,000
30 guns

35,000

Casualties and losses

3,500

3,000

The Battle of Entzheim was a battle fought on 4 October 1674 near Entzheim in present-day Alsace between the French Royal Army under the command of the Vicomte de Turenne on one side and Imperial Army of the Holy Roman Empire on the other side during the Franco-Dutch War. Despite the Holy Roman Empire's numerical superiority, it ended in a French victory.

The Franco-Dutch War largely stemmed from the desires of King Louis XIV to achieve glory through military victory and to punish the Netherlands for what he perceived to be Dutch betrayal during the War of Devolution (1667–68). The Dutch had started that war as a French ally but, faced with Louis's growing territorial ambitions, had ended by joining an alliance with England and Sweden to curb French expansionism. Forced to accept a compromise end to the War of Devolution, Louis paid off Sweden and England to abandon the alliance. In 1672, France invaded the Netherlands. The Dutch managed to block the invasion, and soon other powers, including the Holy Roman Empire, joined the war against France.

While the main campaign of 1674 was being fought in the Netherlands, an Imperial army sought to open a second front against France in Alsace. Imperial Field Marshal Alexander von Bournonville crossed the Rhine River into Alsace at Strasbourg in September with over 40,000 men. That Imperial envoys had obtained authorization for the move was a diplomatic coup of some importance, as the city had previously been neutral and its bridge was a major crossing point. Bournonville expected a further 20,000 men provided by Frederick William, Elector of Brandenburg to join him shortly. If these two forces combined, they could overwhelm the smaller French army in their path and conquer large areas of eastern France.

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