Battle of Valmy

The Battle of Valmy (September 20, 1792), between the French army and a coalition of monarchist states (Prussia, Austria, and others), took place near the village of Valmy in northeastern France and became one of the key moments of the French Revolution.

The battle began with an artillery bombardment by the allied forces on the French troops positioned on the commanding heights. At around 11 a.m., when the fog had cleared, the Prussian infantry, under artillery cover, launched an attack. However, the resilience of the French soldiers, along with a surprisingly concentrated and accurate artillery counterattack, caused unexpected losses among the advancing Prussian infantry, which was advancing in tight formations. The attack faltered, and the rest of the battle turned into an artillery duel that lasted until the evening.

By the end of the battle, both armies remained in their starting positions. In this engagement, less than half of the available forces from both sides were directly involved. Essentially, no real battle occurred. Only an artillery exchange took place. The total casualties for both sides amounted to about 500 people.

The victory at Valmy was an important step in the establishment of the French Republic. After this battle, France declared itself a republic, and King Louis XVI was executed. At the same time, this event strengthened the position of the revolutionary forces and changed the balance of power in Europe for many years.

P.S. Image attribution: Horace Vernet, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons