Elocution

GROUCHY betrayed Napoleon and was bought by the gold of the Rothschilds.

Thanks I learned a lot about mid 18th Century warfare. The French defence was far too strong, the Allies were uncoordinated and careless. The French got the upper hand on both flanks and inevitably, were able to counter attack in the centre. The Allies needed to put more in the woods, win their right flank and neutralise the French cannon positions. Also exploit the gap in the French right of centre, in between the village fortress and the French cannon battery. An Allies column attack there, instead of their broad line attack, would’ve caused disarray and panicked the French. The Allies could then exploit the opportunity, to attack on the other side of the village, to neutralise the other cannons facing the centre. Simultaneously making the centre push, to pin down the French line, or force them to withdraw, as they did so. Then the Allies could’ve supported their centre on both flanks and minimised their casualties from the French guns. This would’ve prevented the French organising their general counter attack and enveloping the British square column. The Allies also didn’t deploy their cavalry at all. They should’ve been used to support and assist the flank attacks, to maximise the chaos for the French and prevent them regrouping to counter the Allies flank attacks. This way the British would’ve had a lot more left to give and been able to press onwards, instead of going defensive and finally retreating. Also the Allies/British pulling back their cannon line was the stupidest blunder of all. They should’ve been used to blast the Frenchie’s second line, to protect a possible retreat and as a rallying point for a retreat. This was a very strange battle, almost as if the Allied commander knew they were going to lose from the start. Literally every move the Allies made was absurd. Even asking the French to shoot first was insane. The French knew they had the longer term advantage. That’s why they told the British to shoot first and King Louis XV didn’t withdraw. “A scene like Againcourt.” - Not really, they had longbows at Againcourt, not muskets.

11th of Foot later the Devonshire Regiment have the Malplaquet battle honour on their colours . I served in the Devonshire and Dorset Regiment.

Excellent as always. Love the period artwork.

Great content! Thanks

Your map is not correct, Lille, Tournai and Leuze are on the same line; whereas on the map you are using Tournai is much further downstream on the Escaut.

Why is he describing the French skirmishers as "tireurs"; shouldn't they be known as "voltigeurs"...?

This was an EXCELLENT presentation.

I’m a Napoleonic era guy but I’ve been watching your Spanish succession series and other early 18th century videos and I find it really interesting how the warfare changed across this century

This is so well done

Really enjoyed watching alongside Andrew Robert’s Napoleon biography

This is fantastic content mate. You've clearly taken heavy inspiration from the Epic History TV channel and improved upon it. Subscribed, hope to see more!

If you think in terms of dynasties, the War of the Spanish Succession was a massive win for Louis XIV. The Spanish branch of the Bourbons has kept their throne up to the present day (albeit in a purely ceremonial role under a constitutional monarchy and with plenty of hiccups along the way). The main Bourbon branch in France... didn't fare so well. Of course, he was at least partially responsible for the political and economic conditions that set France up for revolution at the end of the century, so maybe not so clear-cut a dynastic win after all. As to whether *France* won or lost, that's an entirely different matter. I once heard the end of the conflict described as "The great powers of Europe had fought for a decade to achieve a peace settlement which looked almost identical to something any number of diplomats could have drawn up in 1700: Bourbon control over the Spanish throne in exchange for territorial concessions and a prohibition on ever uniting the two monarchies". (I'm 95% sure it's from Charles Spencer's "Blenheim: Battle For Europe").

Yep 👍

Bloody AI voiceover. Most of the lesser placenames are mispronounced. If you can't even set the field correctly, why should we believe anything else? Lill-le, for example. Dauphin, Campbell, names too.

Cadogan... pronounced Caddugen. 😃

I like the parallel/reflection with the Antique king Pyrrhus saying "another such victory will see us undone" and this from Claude de Villars "another such defeat will see our enemies undone" (paraphrasing)

Stds turn out to be more dangerous for Vendôme than the allies

It would be great to have a french version with the royalist french point of view. Thi war was imposed on Louis XIV who wanted to avoid it. If the allied had been less hard with France and Spain in their peace conditions the war would had be finished by 1708... Hopefully we won a stalemate ! Vive le Roy !

No he loose this battle and was very affected by it.

Subtitles suck!

Nice to see it visibly acted out

Troubles with the french again Later it was the germans with The americans in between 1776 and 1812 not to forget the spanish armada Jesus was right when he said I havent come to bring peace to the world wars and rumours of wars!

His Grace returned from the wars today and did pleasure me twice in his top boots - attrib Marlborough’s wife

Thank you. Merci.

Hi, I drew the picture you used in your thumbnail, just wanted you to know if you ever want to ask to use some of my art this account is where to find me.

The most peculiar of alliances! The 'Pragmatic army' is a euphemism for irrational. The British Hanoverian Kings were certainly competent but it was a shame European attitudes were not more enlightened. Especially in America values were evolving and nationalism had become more sophisticated and, thanks partly to Thomas Paine (1736-1809), populist.

Dissappointing that even common British names (EG. Camp-bell for Campbell.) were badly butchered. I get that Europe is more varied with names & languages etc but it was hard to follow who, what & where were being discussed with such haphazard pronunciations. I feel it also shows a level of disrespect.

Donec Perficiam ("we shall strive, until we achieve")

Major incursion!

Odd how you try and pronounce French names but not others. You can search pronunciation, you know.

dziękuję

dziękuję

thx

Background sound is too loud and makes listening more difficult, certainly for older listeners.

The buggers liked a wig

Congratulations! I think I have been waiting for decades for such a well researched history of the Battle of Quatre Bras,

Nice video but the music is too loud. Makes it hard to watch.

The regimental names being applied to the icons really is a good touch! Excellent video from your smaller channel!

"the screams of the dead" 47:28, hmmm