Battle of Valmy

Overview

The Battle of Valmy, also known as the Cannonade of Valmy, was the first major victory by the army of France during the Revolutionary Wars that followed the French Revolution. The battle took place on 20 September 1792 as Prussian troops commanded by the Duke of Brunswick attempted to march on Paris. Generals François Kellermann and Charles Dumouriez stopped the advance near the northern village of Valmy in Champagne-Ardenne.

Overview adapted from Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Significance

The Battle of Valmy was the first major victory by the French Revolutionary army, halting a Prussian advance on Paris. The Duke of Brunswick's forces attempted to march on the French capital but were checked near Valmy in Champagne-Ardenne by the armies under Kellermann and Dumouriez. The engagement demonstrated that the newly formed Revolutionary forces could stand against one of Europe's most professional armies, with combined casualties remaining low on both sides — roughly 300 French and 184 Prussian — indicating the battle was decided more by resolve and positioning than by attrition. Within the broader War of the First Coalition, Valmy removed the immediate threat to Paris and preserved the Revolutionary government at a moment of acute vulnerability, giving the new Republic the stability needed to consolidate and continue the war.

Forces & casualties

Commanders (6)