Battle of Rocroi

About the Battle

The 21-year-old Duc dEnghien crushed the famous Spanish tercios of Flanders. French cavalry swept the flanks and French infantry with artillery broke the veteran Spanish squares. The myth of Spanish infantry invincibility, built over 150 years, died on this field. France replaced Spain as the leading military power in Europe. The battle closed the era of the tercio and opened the age of line infantry.