Battle of Honnecourt

Battle of Honnecourt
Part of the Thirty Years' War and the Franco-Spanish War (1635–59)
The Battle of Honnecourt, by Pieter Snayers. Oil on canvas. in the Museo del Prado.
Date 26 May 1642 Location Honnecourt-sur-Escaut, Flanders (present-day Nord-Pas-de-Calais, France) Result Spanish victory
Belligerents
France	Spain
Commanders and leaders
Antoine III de Gramont, Maréchal de Guiche	Francisco de Melo
Strength
7,000 infantry 3,000 cavalry 10 guns	13,000 infantry 6,000 cavalry 20 guns
Casualties and losses
3,700 dead or wounded 3,400 captured	500 dead or wounded

The Battle of Honnecourt was a battle of the Thirty Years' War fought on 26 May 1642. The Spanish, led by Francisco de Melo, were victorious over the French under Antoine III de Gramont, Comte de Guiche.

In this battle the French Champagne army was all but annihilated. It lost three quarters of its men against a force double its size. 3200 men were killed and 3400 captured, including army commander Josias Rantzau, leaving Northern France wide open for the Spanish army. But the Spanish victory was not exploited because Francisco de Melo decided to be cautious.

One year later De Melo lost the historic Battle of Rocroi, making this Battle of Honnecourt a footnote in history.

Coordinates: 50°02′15″N 3°11′47″E / 50.0375°N 3.1964°E / 50.0375; 3.1964

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