Battle Of Rocroi, 1643, In The Thirty Years’ War

By André Geraque Kiffer

The Thirty Years War from 1618 to 1648 is considered one of the most destructive wars in European history. It is estimated that between 4.5 and 8 million soldiers and civilians died as a direct result, while some areas of Germany suffered population declines of more than 50%, also from hunger and disease. The war was part of the German religious struggle that was started by the Protestant Reformation of the 16th century. On May 19, 1643, Rocroi marked the end of the rule of the Spanish tercios. In the battle simulation, I will try to correct the flaws presented in the historical analysis, testing improvements in the maneuvers. And then we will prove which maneuver will prevail, both being instructed with the best and maximum effort.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Clube de Autores
• Release date: Feb 5, 2024

Book preview

Battle  of  Rocroi,  1643,

in  the

Thirty  Years’  War

A  historical  simulation

André  Geraque  Kiffer

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---  Kiffer,  André  Geraque.

Battle  of  Rocroi,  1643,  in  the  Thirty  Years’  War.  A historical  simulation.  André  Geraque  Kiffer.

Author’s  Edition,  Rio  de  Janeiro,  2024. Bibliography:  110  p.  67  il.  21  cm..

1.  History.  2.  Art  of  War.  3.  Science  of  War.  4.  War Games.  I.  Author.  II.  Title.

ISBN  978-65-00-92044-4

HISTORICAL  FACT...................................................  5

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HISTORICAL  SIMULATION....................................  3

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REFERENCES.......................................................  1

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As  a  Military  Historian  I  rely  on  a  summary  of  the historical  fact,  I  analyze  and  highlight  the  decisive  factors, before  simulating  hypotheses  what  if…  hypotheses through  a  board  game.  In  the  simulation,  all  possibilities of  the  purpose  of  the  study  are  completed,  when  the  past of  history  is  analyzed  based  on  the  theory  of  the  present and  projected  for  similar  situations  in  the  future.  Since 2010  I  have  published  the  following  series  of  simulations: I.  Historical  Simulation  of  the  Wars  of  the  First  Empires; II.  Historical  Simulation  of  the  Wars  in  Classical  Greece; III.  Historical  Simulation  of  the  Roman  Wars;  IV.  Historical Simulation  of  Wars  in  the  Medieval  Era;  V.  Historical Simulation  of  Wars  in  the  Modern  Era  (1453  to  1774);  VI. Historical  Simulation  of  Wars  in  the  Age  of  Revolutions (1775  to  1860);  VII.  Historical  Simulation  of  Wars  in  the Industrial  Age  (1861  to  1913);  VIII.  Historical  Simulation of  the  First  World  War;  IX.  Historical  Simulation  of  World War  II;  X.  Historical  Simulation  of  the  Cold  War  (1917  to 1991);  and  XI.  Historical  Simulation  of  Contemporary Wars  (1991  to  ...). Keywords:  History.  Art  of  War.  Science  of  War.  War

Games.

Battle  of  Rocroi,  1643.  A  historical  simulation  by  André  Geraque  Kiffer

HISTORICAL  FACT

French  intervention  in  the  Thirty  Years'  War

Im  1:  Thirty  Years’  War.

I  suggest  to  the  reader  who  wants  to  have  more knowledge  about  the  war  of  which  this  battle  is  a  part, that  they  purchase  my  book  A  Historical  Simulation  of the  Thirty  Years'  War,  1618  to  1648  ,  published  in 2020. Bourbon  France,  although  with  its  majority  Catholic population,  was  a  major  rival  to  the  Holy  Roman  Empire

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Battle  of  Rocroi,  1643.  A  historical  simulation  by  André  Geraque  Kiffer

and  Habsburg  Spain.  Cardinal  Richelieu,  chief  minister  of King  Louis  XIII  of  France,  considered  them  very  powerful as  they  occupied  several  territories  on  the  eastern  and northern  borders  of  France,  including  parts  of  the  Low Countries.

Im  2:  French  phase.

France  declared  war  on  Spain  in  May  1635  and  on  the Holy  Roman  Empire  in  August  1636,  opening  offensives against  the  Habsburgs  in  Germany  and  the  Low  Countries. She  aligned  her  strategy  with  the  Swedes  at  Wismar (1636)  and  Hamburg  (1638). Holy  Emperor  Ferdinand  II  died  in  1637  and  was succeeded  by  his  son  Ferdinand  III,  who  was  strongly inclined  to  end  the  war  through  negotiations.

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Battle  of  Rocroi,  1643.  A  historical  simulation  by  André  Geraque  Kiffer

French  military  efforts  initially  failed  and  the  Spanish counterattacked,  invading  their  territory,  devastating  the provinces  of  Champagne,  Burgundy  (the  duchy)  and Picardy,  even  threatening  Paris  in  1636. However,  the  tide  began  to  turn  when  the  Spanish  army was  repelled  by  Bernhard  of  Saxe-Weimar  at  the  Battle  of Breisach  in  late  1638,  driving  the  Habsburg  armies  away from  France's  borders. At  the  same  time,  in  December  1640,  the  Portuguese  rose up  against  Spanish  rule,  with  Richelieu  providing  aid  to the  insurgents. The  subsequent  French  campaign  against  Spanish  forces in  Flanders  culminated  in  a  decisive  French  victory  at  the Battle  of  Rocroi  on  19  May  1643. Battle  of  Rocroi The  Battle  of  Rocroi,  which  took  place  on  May  19,  1643, began  with  an  attack  from  the  French  right  on  the  Spanish left.  The  French  cavalry,  under  the  command  of  Jean  de Gassion,  pushed  back  the  opposing  Spanish  cavalry.  With the  Spanish  defeated,  the  commander  of  the  French  army, Enghien,  continued  to  advance  quickly  on  the  exposed Spanish  left  flank  against  the  elite  Spanish  infantry,  who faced  and  defeated  their  French  counterparts. At  the  same  time,  French  cavalry  on  the  left,  against Enghien's  orders,  attacked  the  Spanish  right  and  were

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Battle  of  Rocroi,  1643.  A  historical  simulation  by  André  Geraque  Kiffer

repulsed.  The  Spanish  mounted  a  counterattack,  which was  initially  very  successful,  but  their  advance  was eventually  halted  by  French  reserves.  At  this  point,  the French  left  and  center  were  in  danger.  The  battle  has reached  a  stalemate,  as  both  armies  have  so  far  had successes  on  the  right  and  failures  on  the  left.

Im  3:  Opening  of  the  battle.

Enghien,  aware  that  his  left  and  center  were  under pressure,  decided  that  the  best  way  to  effectively  rescue them  was  not  to  retreat  but  to  exploit  his  momentum  on the  right  flank.  He  ordered  a  breakthrough  by  his  cavalry on  the  right,  which  reached  the  rear  of  the  Spanish  lines. He  then  disorganized  the  Spanish  infantry  in  the  center and  continued  until  he  ran  into  the  rearguard  of  the Spanish  cavalry  that  had  engaged  his  reserves.

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Battle  of  Rocroi,  1643.  A  historical  simulation  by  André  Geraque  Kiffer

Im  4:  Middle  and  End  of  the  battle.

The  movement  was  a  complete  success,  and  when  the Spanish  cavalry  dispersed,  it  left  their  infantry  isolated, leading  the  Spanish  artillery  garrisons  to  withdraw  from the  battlefield.  Considered  the  best  in  Europe