Battle Of Lens, 1648, In The Thirty Years’ War

By André Geraque Kiffer

The Thirty Years War of 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 famine and disease. The war was part of the German religious struggle that was initiated by the Protestant Reformation of the 16th century. In August 20, 1648, the Battle of Lens was the last major battle of the war, and it cemented Condé s reputation as one of the greatest generals of his time. Lens was again restored to the French. The Spanish Army of Flanders was destroyed and the United Provinces gained their independence from Spain. In the battle simulation I will try to correct the flaws presented in the historical analysis, testing improvements in maneuvers. And then we will see which maneuver will prevail, with both of us instructed with the best and with maximum effort.

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

Book preview

Battle  of  Lens,  1648,  in the  Thirty  Years’  War A  historical  simulation

André  Geraque  Kiffer

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---  Kiffer,  André  Geraque.

Battle  of  Lens,  1648,  in  the  Thirty  Years’  War.  A  historical simulation.  André  Geraque  Kiffer.

Author’s  Edition,  Rio  de  Janeiro,  2024. Bibliography:  109  p.  65  il.  21  cm..

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

ISBN  978-65-00-92045-1

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

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

3  7 7

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  Lens,  1648.  A  historical  simulation  by  André  Geraque  Kiffer

HISTORICAL  FACT

French  intervention  in  the  Thirty  Years'  War

Img  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  Lens,  1648.  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.

Img  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  Lens,  1648.  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  Lens August  20,  1648.  Lens  was  a  French  victory  under  the command  of  Louis  II  of  Bourbon,  Prince  of  Condé,  against a  Spanish  army  under  the  command  of  Archduke  Leopold Wilhelm.  It  was  the  last  major  battle  of  the  war,  and cemented  Condé's  reputation  as  one  of  the  greatest generals  of  his  time. Over  the  four  years  that  followed  the  decisive  French victory  at  Rocroi  against  the  Spanish  Army  of  Flanders,  the French  captured  dozens  of  towns  throughout  northern France  and  the  Spanish  Netherlands.

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Battle  of  Lens,  1648.  A  historical  simulation  by  André  Geraque  Kiffer

Img  3:  General  plan  of  the  battle.

Archduke  Leopold  Wilhelm  was  appointed  governor  of  the Spanish  Netherlands  in  1647  to  strengthen  the  Habsburg alliance  of  Spain  with  those  of  Austria,  and  began  a  major counteroffensive  in  the  same  year,  reconquering  the fortresses  of  Armentières,  Comines  and  Landrecies. The  Prince  of  Condé  was  recalled  from  a  failed  campaign in  Catalonia  against  the  Spanish  and  appointed commander  of  the  French  army  in  front  of  the  Flandres army  of  the  Archduke  and  General  John  of  Beck.  Condé captured  Ypres,  but  then  the  Spanish  German  force besieged  Lens. In  the  ensuing  battle,  Condé  provoked  the  Spanish  to leave  a  strong  hilltop  position  onto  an  open  plain,  where he  used  the  discipline  and  superior  hand-to-hand  combat capabilities  of  his  cavalry  to  attack  and  defeat  the opponents  in  the  Spanish  wings.  The  French  infantry  and

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Battle  of  Lens,  1648.  A  historical  simulation  by  André  Geraque  Kiffer

cavalry  in  the  center  were  attacked  by  the  strong  Spanish center,  suffering  heavy  casualties,  but  held  their  ground.

Img  4:  Center  detail.

The  French  cavalry  on  the  wings,  free  from  any opposition,  surrounded  and  attacked  the  Spanish  center, which  promptly  capitulated.  The  Spanish  lost  half  of  their army,  38  cannons,  100  flags,  pontoons  and  baggage.

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Battle