2012 marks the 300th anniversary of the battle of Denain, a battle forgotten beyond the borders of France. This French victory managed to restore some of Louis' XIV lost gloire after the series of atrocious defeats inflicted by Marlborough and Prince Eugene. Prince Eugene's 1712 campaign was set up for failure by the treacherous way the English abandoned their Allies. The English, in secret negotiation with the French, did not inform its Allies about their change of heart. If Prince Eugene had known, he would not have assigned them to execute a flanking attack while the Imperials blocked the French army. The English exit destroyed his campaign plan, which he did not abandon. He foolishly besieged Langrecies while his supply lines (named "the road to Paris" even if they led eastwards away from Paris) lay exposed along the French front.

His opponent, marshal Claude de Villars, after a phase of lethargy, executed a brilliant feint and march "sur les derrières", crushing the Dutch in the little town of Denain, while Prince Eugene was forced to helplessly watch the destruction of his allies. The Dutch losses sapped the will of the Republic to fight on, while the Austrians saw their position in Spain evaporate. Thus, Denain marks the end of the War of the Spanish Succession, even if it took the parties some time to agree to the peace treaties of Utrecht 1713 and Rastatt 1714.

This booklet offers a good overview of the campaign and the strategic situation. It hardly describes the battle itself and also lacks an order of battle. Given the paucity of available information about the battle, this is still a welcome addition. ( )