Battle of Villaviciosa

The Battle of Villaviciosa (11 December 1710) was a battle between a Franco-Spanish army led by Louis Joseph, Duke of Vendôme and Philip V of Spain and a Habsburg-allied army commanded by Austrian Guido Starhemberg. The battle took place during the War of the Spanish Succession, one day after a Franco-Spanish victory at Brihuega against a British army under James Stanhope, 1st Earl Stanhope. Both Philip V of Spain and the Archduke Charles of Austria claimed victory, but the number of dead and wounded, the number of artillery and other weapons abandoned by the Allied army and the battle's strategic consequences for the war confirmed victory for Philip.

Battle of Villaviciosa
Part of the War of the Spanish Succession

Vendôme (left) presents the standards to Philip V of Spain (right) at Villaviciosa by Jean Alaux.
Date11 December 1710
Location
Villaviciosa de Tajuña, Guadalajara, Spain
40.7864°N 2.83639°W / 40.7864; -2.83639
Result Franco-Spanish victory
Belligerents
Bourbon Spain
 France		 Austria
Habsburg Spain
 Dutch Republic
 Portugal
 Great Britain
Commanders and leaders
Philip V
Duke of Vendôme
Count of Aguilar
Marquis of Valdecañas		 Guido Starhemberg
Antonio de Villarroel
Count of Atalaia
Strength
20,000 14,000
Casualties and losses
2,000–3,000 dead or wounded

5,000–6,000 dead or wounded

3,000 captured
Villaviciosa de Tajuña
Madrid
Spain

The battle was largely determined by the Spanish dragoons commanded by the Marquis of Valdecañas and the Count of Aguilar, which far exceeded the opposing forces. The Austrian forces retreated, pursued by Spanish cavalry, and the allied army was reduced to 6,000 or 7,000 men when it reached Barcelona (one of the few places in Spain still recognizing Charles' authority) on 6 January.

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