Blenheim (Ger. Blindheim), a village of Bavaria, 23 miles NNW. of Augsburg, memorable in connection with Marlborough's great victory over the French and Bavarians, August 13, 1704. The battle, however, really took place at the neighbouring village of Höchstädt, and is known to the Germans by that name. France and Bavaria on the one hand stood opposed to England and Austria on the other. The French and Bavarian army consisted of 56,000 men, commanded by Tallard, Marsin, and the Elector of Bavaria. Opposed to it was an army of 52,000 men, under the command of Marlborough and Prince Eugene. The French and Bavarian generals had no idea that the allies would act on the offensive, and accordingly, when, about two o'clock in the morning, the line of the allies put itself in motion, they believed that it was about to retreat.
Even at seven o'clock, when the heads of the eight advancing columns became visible, Tallard regarded the whole proceeding as a stratagem to cover the retreat. When the mistake was discovered the army was hastily drawn up in battle-array, and fought with dauntless courage; but at five in the afternoon Marlborough broke through the line of battle, and won a victory most complete and decisive. The French and Bavarians lost between 30,000 and 40,000 in killed and wounded and prisoners, besides 120 pieces of cannon and 300 standards. The loss of the victors amounted to about 5000 killed and 8000 wounded.—Near to Blenheim, also, the French defeated the Austrians in 1800.