Big goings-on around here this week in preparation for Friday's 300th anniversary of the Battle of Malplaquet, the bloodiest engagement of the 18th century. It was part of the War of Spanish Succession, which was in no small measure a big land grab by France and Louis XIV. It was only in the late 19th century that France turned into a victim. The battlefield is on the French border, just a few miles south of us. In typical fashion, the Belgians are marking the event with a commemorative drama and a special bread, sausage, and beer (you knew that was coming).
In case you don't feel like clicking on the link, 32,000 men died in the 1-day battle between the French and an allied force of British, Low Lands, and Austrian troops. The Allies lost almost one-fourth of their men dead. Also killed were 57 civilians at morning mass.
It seems that 11 September has always been a bad day.
2 comments:
Interesting account. Also interesting is the change from century to century in who the "Allies" are.
Sep 11 has not ALWAYS been a bad day: my husband and family think it was a pretty good day in 1960 ... a Sunday ... at about 5:30 in the evening ... in Florida ... at the North Miami Hospital ...
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