Battle of Valmy

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The Battle of Valmy (1792) was a pivotal early clash of the French Revolutionary Wars in which French revolutionary forces halted a Prussian-led invasion, bolstering the survival of the Revolution and the legitimacy of the new French Republic.

Aliases (2)

Statements (46)
Predicate Object
instanceOf battle
military engagement
alsoKnownAs Cannonade of Valmy
artilleryCommanderFrench François-Christophe Kellermann
associatedWith French National Convention
proclamation of the French First Republic
belligerent France
Habsburg monarchy
Kingdom of Prussia
campaign Valmy campaign
casualtiesFrench relatively light
casualtiesPrussianAllied relatively light
commander Charles William Ferdinand, Duke of Brunswick
Charles-François Dumouriez
François-Christophe Kellermann
King Frederick William II of Prussia
conflict War of the First Coalition
country France
date 20 September 1792
era French Revolution
followedBy Battle of Jemappes
influenced decision of the Prussian army to retreat from France
subsequent French offensives into the Austrian Netherlands
involved Austrian contingents
French Revolutionary volunteers
French regular troops
Prussian regular army
location Valmy
modernLocation Marne department, France
notableFeature extensive artillery duel
limited infantry engagement despite heavy cannon fire
notableQuote “From this place and from this day forth commences a new era in the history of the world”
partOf French Revolutionary Wars
precededBy Prussian invasion of France in 1792
quoteAttributedTo Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
region Champagne-Ardenne
result French victory
significance bolstered the legitimacy of the French First Republic
first major victory of the French Revolutionary army
halted the Prussian-led invasion of France
helped secure the survival of the French Revolution
strengthFrench approximately 50,000–60,000 soldiers
strengthPrussianAllied approximately 30,000–40,000 soldiers
terrain rolling hills around Valmy in Champagne
typeOfWarfare artillery-centric engagement
year 1792


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