Bombardment of Arras

Bombardment of Arras
Part of the War of the Spanish Succession

A 1712 print depicting the bombardment
Date2–3 March, 1712
Location
Result Anglo-Dutch victory
Belligerents
 Dutch Republic
 Great Britain
 France
Commanders and leaders
Albemarle
Hompesch
Grovestins
Cadogan
Montesquiou d'Artagnan
Strength
36 infantry battalions
44 cavalry squadrons (c.17,400 men)
22 guns and mortars
Unknown
Casualties and losses
20 killed and wounded 1 to 1.2 million rations
Unknown killed and wounded

The bombardment of Arras was an engagement of the War of the Spanish Succession which took place on 2–3 March 1712. A Grand Alliance army under the command of Arnold van Keppel, 1st Earl of Albemarle closed in on Arras with the aim of destroying the supplies held there. The Allies intended for this to prevent the French from fending off sieges of Arras and Cambrai. Although the Allied succeeded, the advantages gained to them were ultimately unexploited due to Austrian troops arriving too late to the Allied army.