Battle of Rocquencourt

The Battle of Rocquencourt was a cavalry skirmish between French Dragoons and Prussian hussars.

Prehistory

The Napoleonic Wars were officially lost with the defeat in the summer campaign of 1815 for France. Louis -Nicolas Davout, signed on behalf of France the final armistice of France, who was Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington placed. The contract would be valid as soon as the Prussian army had arrived in Saint- Germain -en- Laye. Remy- Isidore Exelmans found the conditions in the contract impracticable, and tried to prevent the Prussian army on their way into Saint- Germain.

Place

As a place of ambush Exelmans chose the roads in the villages of Le Chesnay and Rocquencourt ( Yvelines), which had to pass the army of Prussia.

The Battle

When the Prussians arrived on 1 July 1815 Exel Mans opened the battle with the French cavalry. Eston of Sohr attacked the French army with his hussars, while the rest of the army made ​​a bow to the battlefield and went on their way to Saint -Germain. The Prussians had no chance against the French veterans. After a short battle itself resulted in Eston and was taken prisoner. The battle was decided.

Follow

Despite this defeat reached the bulk of the Prussian army Saint- Germain, and the cease-fire came into effect. Despite this victory, France was finally defeated by the Seventh Coalition.

Today commemorates the battle with a memorial in Rocquencourt ( see photo).