Editing Battle of Lens (section)

==Prelude==
On 20 August the opposing armies drew up west of Lens; the Spanish held a strong defensive position on the high ground. [[Archduke Leopold Wilhelm of Austria|Leopold Wilhelm]] did not intend to fight a battle, as four of his cavalry regiments were out foraging.{{sfn|Guthrie|2003|p=193}}

===French Army===
The French right wing under Condé himself had 17 cavalry [[Squadron (army)|squadron]]s in two [[Echelon formation|echelon]]s. The center under Chatillon comprised 12 infantry [[battalion]]s and six squadrons of cavalry. Commanded by Marshal [[Antoine III de Gramont|Antoine Gramont]], the left wing was composed of 16 cavalry squadrons. Six cavalry squadrons made up the reserve under [[Jean Louis d'Erlach]]. Formation-wise, the 12 infantry battalions were drawn up in lines eight ranks-deep, with each battalion having a strength of 600–700 men. The cavalry was in 45 squadrons of 200 horsemen, their ranks four or five-deep.{{sfn|Guthrie|2003|p=192}} The French artillery, 18 guns-strong, was commanded the Comte de Cossé.{{sfn|Thion|2008|p=163}}
<gallery widths="240px" heights="160px" >
File:Arolsen Klebeband 02 227.jpg|General Louis de Bourbon-Condé
File:Antoine III de Gramont - Basque Museum in Bayonne.jpg|Marshal Antoine de Gramont
File:Johann Ludwig von Erlach.jpg|General Johann von Erlach
File:Henri II de Saint-Nectaire (1599-1681).jpg|General Henri de La Ferté-Senneterre
</gallery>

===Spanish Army===
The Spanish also had their infantry in the center and the cavalry on the wings, all three commands in two echelons as well. 27 companies of [[Walloons|Walloon]] cavalry composed the right wing under Bucquoy. The center was the strongest part of the battle array, with 16 infantry battalions and 15 cavalry squadrons under the [[List of Governors of Luxembourg|governor of Luxembourg]], Major General [[Jean de Beck]]. The 13 center squadrons were deployed in 4 groups in the intervals of the infantry battalions. Ligniville on the left had 20 squadrons of [[Duchy of Lorraine|Lorraine]]r cavalry. The course of the battle would reveal Beck's mistake in putting too much cavalry in the center and not enough on the right.{{sfn|Guthrie|2003|p=193}} The Spanish army used deeper, [[Holy Roman Empire|Imperial]]-style formations of 10 ranks for its 16 smaller infantry battalions of 500–600 men. The 62 cavalry squadrons were also smaller than those of the French, with a strength of 100–200 men. Their ranks were four or five deep like those of their French counterparts. Unlike the French, the Spanish cavalry did not normally charge enemy cavalry at a gallop sword in hand,
preferring to receive enemy charges standing still with [[carbine]] salvos at point blank range instead.{{sfn|Guthrie|2003|p=192}}{{sfn|Thion|2008|p=162}}  This would prove inferior to the French tactic of all out charges.  
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File:Jan van den Hoecke - Archduke Leopold Wilhelm in armor (1614-1662).jpg|Archduke Leopold Wilhelm
File:Johann von beck.jpg|General Jean de Beck
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