Turenne's counterattack at Bléneau secured the royal court at Gien and blocked Condé's advance during the Second Fronde.
Key Facts
- Date
- April 7, 1652
- Conflict
- Second Fronde
- Rebel commander
- Louis II de Bourbon, Prince de Condé
- Royalist commander
- Henri de la Tour d'Auvergne, Vicomte de Turenne
- Notable rebel casualty
- Duke of Nemours, wounded in the thigh
- Condé reached Paris
- April 11, 1652
Location
Cause → Event → Consequence
After Condé's failed attempts to conquer Aquitaine in early 1652, he moved northeast upon learning the royal court was travelling toward Paris. Reinforced at Lorris by the Duke of Nemours and forces of the Duke of Beaufort, he took command of the combined rebel army and advanced toward the royalist positions.
During the night of April 6–7, Condé ambushed Royalist Marshal d'Hocquincourt's troops quartered at Bléneau, destroying part of the royal army and forcing d'Hocquincourt toward Auxerre. Turenne then counterattacked despite numerical disadvantage, exploiting the terrain to check the rebel advance and compel Condé to withdraw toward Paris.
Both sides claimed victory, but Turenne secured the safety of the royal court at Gien and denied Condé a decisive strategic gain. Condé arrived in Paris on April 11, while Turenne regrouped and subsequently laid siege to the rebel forces at Étampes.
Belligerents & Mobilization Analysis
Side A
1 belligerent
Louis II de Bourbon, Prince de Condé, Duke of Nemours, Duke of Beaufort.
Side B
1 belligerent
Henri de la Tour d'Auvergne, Vicomte de Turenne, Marshal Charles de Monchy d'Hocquincourt.