Battle of Villaviciosa

1710 battle
Although the Bourbons in the center were in difficulty, the Count of Aguilar threw his cavalry against the archduke's right wing (commanded by General Starhemberg and comprising the best grenadiers and cavalry squadrons of the allied army). The allies were unable to stop the Count of Aguilar's cavalry. The archduke's right wing was saved from disaster by support from the center, led by the Spanish general Villarroel. Starhemberg regrouped his forces, repulsed the Count of Aguilar's cavalry and charged the Bourbon left wing. After capturing the left wing cannons, Starhemberg launched his army against the center. The Bourbon center and left wing began to retreat, and the right wing cavalry pursued the allied left wing. The Count of Aguilar then attacked against the archduke's right wing with his dragoons. Although the German and Portuguese cavalry (under the Count of Atalaya) resisted the first charge, Aguilar's cavalry broke the allied right wing. Valdecañas' cavalry also dealt a severe blow to allied army, and Lt. Gen. Mahony and Field Marshal Amezaga's troops charged from the right wing. Starhemberg in return launched three cavalry charges against them. During the fighting, Amezaga was wounded in the face. Starhemberg's forces retreated to a nearby forest to escape the Franco Spanish cavalry, and the allied forces began their withdrawal under cover of night. The British regiments suffered heavy losses; Brigadier General Lepell, the senior British officer, reported two regiments had been cut off while over 107 men were missing from his own and he had only two squadrons still available.

Although Philip V of Spain and the Archduke Charles both claimed victory, the number of dead and wounded, the weapons abandoned by the allied army, and the strategic consequences in the war confirmed French domination. Starhemberg continued his retreat, harassed by Spanish cavalry. His army was reduced to 6,000 or 7,000 men when he reached Barcelona. The Spanish throne was finally secured for Philip when Charles left Spain in April 1711 to become Holy Roman Emperor after the death of his older brother.

Mckay, Derek 1983). The Rise of the Great Powers (1648 1815). New York: Longman. Stanhope, Philip Henry (1832). History of the War of the Succession in Spain. London: John Murray. Symcox, Geoffrey (1973). War, Diplomacy, and Imperialism (1618–1763). New York: Harper Torchbooks. .