Editing Battle of the Dunes (1658) (section)

==Prelude==
A complex political situation resulted in both French and English forces fighting for both sides. When the government of [[Louis XIV of France|Louis XIV]] formed an alliance with [[Lord Protector]] [[Oliver Cromwell]], the exiled [[Charles II of England]] [[Treaty of Brussels (1656)|allied himself]] with [[Philip IV of Spain]]. Charles set up his headquarters in [[Bruges]] and established his [[Royalist Army in Exile]]. The Spanish supplied only enough money to form five regiments.{{sfn|EKBGD staff|loc=Origins}}{{sfn|Birch|1742|pp=384–399}} This was a disappointment for the Royalists, who had hoped to be able to form an army large enough to contemplate an invasion of the [[English Commonwealth]]. A renewal of a 1657 treaty between Cromwell and Louis XIV provided 6,000 Commonwealth infantry and a fleet to aid Turenne. Along with English forces, French forces fought on both sides with Condé, a French [[Prince du sang|Prince of the blood]], leading a contingent of French rebels of the Fronde.

[[File:Juanjosedeaustria.jpg|thumb|200px|left|Don Juan José de Austria, Spanish commander at Battle of the Dunes]]

The 15,000 French supported by 6,000 troops from the [[English Commonwealth]] [[Siege of Dunkirk (1658)|besieged Dunkirk]]. Dunkirk was Spain's greatest base for [[privateers]], and these privateers had wreaked havoc on English merchant shipping.<ref group=lower-alpha>England had lost 1,500 to 2,000 ships to Spain that year {{harv|Rodger|2004|p=28}}.</ref> It was defended by a garrison of about 3,000 in May 1658,{{sfn|Davis|2001|p=222}} while an English fleet of 18 ships,{{sfn|Hozier|1885|p=131}} under [[Edward Montagu, 1st Earl of Sandwich|Edward Mountagu]], blockaded the port and prevented any reinforcement or supply by sea. The Spanish and their allies were caught by surprise as they were convinced that Turenne would attack [[Cambrai]], while they thought Dunkirk was merely a diversion, and they responded belatedly and hastily.{{sfn|Longueville|1907|p=257}} The approach to Dunkirk was made difficult as the inhabitants had opened the sluices and flooded the area, but Turenne persisted and opened the trenches on the night of 4/5 June.{{sfn|Hozier|1885|p=131}}

A Spanish army under the command of [[John of Austria the Younger|Don John]] of Austria, consisting of about 15,000 men, moved to raise the siege. It was divided in 2 corps, the Spanish [[Army of Flanders]] on the right and centre and the small corps of French rebels, of the [[Fronde]], on the left under the command of Condé.  The Spanish army included Spanish, German and Walloon troops, and a force of 2,000 English/Irish Royalists – formed as the nucleus of potential army for the invasion of England by Charles II, with Charles' brother [[James II of England|James, Duke of York]], amongst its commanders – was sent to relieve the town.

Leaving some 6,000 men{{sfn|Tucker|2010|p=213}} to continue the siege, Turenne advanced to meet the Spanish army. The battle on 14 June 1658 which resulted from this manoeuvre became known as the ''Battle of the Dunes'' because the Spanish army formed their line upon a line of dunes, or sand-hills, also called the Downs, perpendicular to the sea. Napoleon described the battle as Turenne's "...&nbsp;most brilliant action".{{sfn|Longueville|1907|p=266}} The [[Red coat (British army)|red-coats]] of the [[New Model Army]] under the leadership of Sir [[William Lockhart of Lee|William Lockhart]], Cromwell's ambassador at Paris in Turenne's army, astonished both armies by the stubborn fierceness of their assault up a sand-hill {{convert|150|ft|m}} high and strongly defended by Spanish veterans.{{sfn|Davis|2001|p=223}}<ref>{{EB1911|inline=1 |wstitle=Fronde, The |volume=11 |page=248}}</ref>{{sfn|Plant|2008|loc=Battle of the Dunes, 1658}}<ref group=lower-alpha>The English had learnt a lot about war since two rabbles had met at the battle of the [[Battle of Edgehill]] in 1642 ({{harvnb|Niderost|1993}} and {{harvnb|Atkinson|1911|p=404}})</ref>