Battle of Freiburg

The Battle of Freiburg, also called the Three Day Battle, took place on August 3, August 5 and August 9, 1644 as part of the Thirty Years' War.

The entrenched Bavarians led by Franz von Mercy retreated after three separate days of being assaulted by the French army under Louis II de Bourbon, Duc d'Enghien and marshal Henri de la Tour d'Auvergne, Vicomte de Turenne, and the French then went on to capture the city of Freiburg. The Battle of Freiburg produced the highest number of casualties of any battle in the war.

Reinforcements under Enghien, dispatched by Mazarin in the hopes of saving Freiburg, arrived days too late. The Bavarians were well entrenched in the mountains around Freiburg. Nonetheless, Enghien (who has assumed command) determined to make a frontal assault.

The attacks were made on 3 August and 5 August, 1644. The battle was bloody but equivocal in result: each side lost roughly half its army and each remained on the field.

Freiburg remained in Bavarian hands, blunting by its closeness to Breisach the advantages possessing that place presented.