Battles of Barfleur and La Hougue facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Battles of Barfleur and La Hougue
Part of the Nine Years' War
The Battle of La Hougue, Benjamin West
Date 29 May – 4 June 1692 (1692-05-29 – 1692-06-04) Location Off Cotentin Peninsula, Atlantic Ocean 49°40′16″N 1°15′48″W / 49.6711°N 1.2633°W / 49.6711; -1.2633 Result Anglo-Dutch victory
Belligerents
England  Dutch Republic	France
Commanders and leaders
Edward Russell Philips van Almonde	Anne Tourville Bernardin Bellefonds
Strength
82 ships of the line 3 fireships 39,000 men	44 ships of the line 2 frigates 1 fireship 21,000 men
Casualties and losses
5,000 killed or wounded 2 ships of the line sunk 3 fireships destroyed	5,000 killed or wounded 15 ships of the line destroyed 2 frigates destroyed 1 fireship destroyed

The Battles of Barfleur and La Hougue were important naval battles during the Nine Years' War. They happened between May 29 and June 14, 1692. The first part of the battle was near Barfleur, France. Later actions took place near Cherbourg and Saint-Vaast-la-Hougue in Normandy.

These battles were part of a French plan to help James II get his throne back. He had lost it to William III and Mary II in England. The French planned to send an army across the English Channel.

A large French fleet, led by Admiral de Tourville, was supposed to carry this army. But the English and Dutch navies, led by Admiral Edward Russell, joined forces. They were much stronger than the French fleet. The Anglo-Dutch fleet defeated the French, ending the invasion threat to England.

Why Did the Battles Happen?

A portrait of Edward Russell, a key English admiral.

Two years before, in 1690, the French navy had won a battle called Beachy Head. This made them think they could invade England. King Louis XIV of France and his naval minister planned to land an army in England. Their goal was to put James II back on the English throne.

They wanted to launch the invasion in April 1692. This was earlier than the English and Dutch fleets usually got ready and joined up. Many of the soldiers for the invasion were Irish troops who had left Ireland after a defeat in 1691.

French troops gathered at Saint-Vaast-la-Hougue. Cavalry and cannons were to be loaded onto ships at Le Havre. The French fleet commander, Admiral Anne Hilarion de Tourville, was ordered to bring his ships from Brest. He was to pick up the troops and then fight off the English fleet to land the army in England.

French Fleet Challenges

The French fleet faced many problems. Ships from Toulon and Rochefort were delayed by storms and bad winds. Admiral Tourville's main fleet from Brest also had too few sailors. He had to leave 20 ships behind.

His fleet was further delayed by bad winds. It finally entered the English Channel with 37 large warships, called "ships of the line." He was later joined by more ships, giving him a total of 44 ships of the line.

Allied Fleet Gathers Strength

Meanwhile, the English and Dutch fleets were gathering. They met at St Helens on the Isle of Wight. Admiral Russell, leading the English fleet, made a risky journey to join up quickly.

The Dutch fleet, led by Philips van Almonde, also sailed south to meet the English. By May 14, 1692, the combined Anglo-Dutch fleet was ready. It had over 80 ships of the line, much more than the French.

The French plan to attack while the allies were separated had failed. However, King Louis XIV had given Tourville strict orders to fight, no matter how strong or weak the enemy was. So, Tourville prepared for battle.

The Battle of Barfleur

A map showing the battle locations in Northern France.

The Battle of Barfleur, 29 May 1692, painted by Richard Paton.

The two fleets spotted each other on May 19, 1692, near Cap Barfleur. Admiral Tourville knew his orders were to attack. He also hoped some English captains might switch sides, but none did.

The ships slowly moved closer in a light breeze. Russell's fleet came from the northeast, and Tourville's from the south. Both fleets were organized into three groups, each led by an admiral.

Because the wind was so light, the battle didn't start until after 10:00 AM. Tourville had the advantage of the wind direction. This meant he could choose when to break off the fight if needed. He made his central group of ships stronger to face Russell's main group.

The battle continued for hours, with both sides firing cannons. At one point, the wind changed, allowing the English and Dutch to break through the French line. A thick fog then covered both fleets.

By 10:00 PM, the fighting was almost over. Surprisingly, no ships were lost on either side, even though many were badly damaged. Tourville used the changing tide to pull his fleet away from the battle. Russell quickly followed, chasing the French into the night.

The Pursuit and Destruction

The Battle of Barfleur, by Ludolf Bakhuizen.

On May 20, the French fleet was scattered. Some ships managed to escape into the Atlantic and reach safety. Others headed towards the coast of Normandy.

Admiral Tourville's flagship, Soleil Royal, was very badly damaged. He had to move his flag to another ship. The French ships were also struggling because many of their anchors were not strong enough for the strong tides in the area. The nearest French port, Cherbourg, was not well protected.

French Ships Trapped

On May 21, the French fleet was anchored near Cap de la Hague. Some ships tried to sail through a dangerous passage called the Alderney Race. A local sailor, Hervé Riel, helped guide them. The English and Dutch did not follow them through this dangerous route. These French ships eventually reached Saint-Malo safely.

However, the rest of the French ships, including Tourville's group, were trapped. They had lost their anchors and were forced to run aground (beach themselves) along the coast. Three badly damaged ships landed at Cherbourg. Ten more reached St Vaast la Hougue, where two other French ships were already beached.

Final Attacks at Cherbourg and La Hougue

The English and Dutch pursued the trapped French ships.

• At Cherbourg, on May 23, Vice-Admiral Delaval attacked the three beached French ships. He used small boats and fireships (ships filled with flammable materials). The French ships, including the Soleil Royal, were destroyed.
• At La Hougue, the remaining French ships were beached. They were supposed to be protected by soldiers on land and cannons. But on June 3 and 4, the Dutch and English attacked with small boats and fireships. The French sailors were tired and discouraged. All twelve French ships of the line that had sought shelter there were burned and destroyed. This final action became known as the Battle of La Hougue.

What Happened Next?

A Dutch news pamphlet about the battle.

The destruction of the French fleet ended their plans to invade England. The English celebrated this victory with a special review of their fleet.

After these battles, France changed its naval strategy. They stopped trying to have the strongest navy just for fighting big battles. Instead, they focused more on land wars in Europe. They also started attacking enemy trade ships at sea.

Historians often see these events differently. The English usually view it as one big victory over six days, often calling it the Battle of La Hougue. The French see it as separate battles: Barfleur, Cherbourg, and La Hougue. However, many experts agree it was one continuous action.

The English consider it a clear victory. The French admit defeat at Cherbourg and La Hougue, but some claim Barfleur was a victory. The invasion plan was stopped, but the French navy quickly rebuilt its losses. The next year, the French even won a battle against the Allies.

While the French did not achieve their goal of controlling the Channel, their admirals showed great skill and bravery during the Barfleur part of the battle. The English, on the other hand, had some captains who were criticized for not fighting hard enough.

Famous leader Winston Churchill said that the Battle of La Hougue "broke decisively... all French pretensions to supremacy at sea." He called it the "Trafalgar of the seventeenth century," comparing it to another very famous naval victory.

Images for kids

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  The Battle of La Hougue, by Benjamin West