Editing Battle of Malplaquet (section)

==Legacy==

While the battle is now chiefly remembered by British and Dutch commentators for the casualties incurred, the French view it differently.  At the beginning of the war, their army was considered the best in Europe, a reputation shattered by a series of defeats between 1704 and 1708.{{Sfn|MacDowall|2020|p=23}} Despite being a narrow defeat which did little to change the immediate strategic situation, Malplaquet is seen as more important than victory at [[Battle of Denain|Denain]] in 1712. Historian André Corvisier suggests its significance in French military history is primarily psychological. He argues 18th century authors viewed it as the point when the French army regained its confidence, while for those writing after the 1870 [[Franco-Prussian War]], it provided proof of French resilience and ability to recover from catastrophic defeat.{{Sfn|Corvisier|1997|pp=2–4}}

A total of fourteen battalions of Swiss mercenaries fought in the battle, six with the French, including two of [[Swiss Guards]], and another eight with the Dutch. Malplaquet was the last action where Swiss mercenaries directly engaged one another until [[Battle of Bailén|Bailén]] in 1808.{{sfn|Z'Graggen|2018|p=51}}

Written many years later, a firsthand account of the battle is given in the book ''Amiable Renegade: The Memoirs of Peter Drake (1671–1753)''.{{sfn|Drake|1960|pp=163–170}} An Irishman who served in various European armies, Drake fought with the ''Maison du Roi'' at Malplaquet and was captured after being wounded several times.{{Sfn|Holmes|2008|p=432}} Another prominent Irish émigré, [[Féilim Ó Néill]], was among those killed serving with the Irish Brigade.{{Sfn|Instituto Português de Heráldica|2006|p=391}}