Elchingen became famous through the Battle of Elchingen: on 14 October 1805 the Napoleonic troops under the command of Marshal Michel Ney defeated the Austrians. One day later the Battle of Ulm began, after which Karl Mack von Leiberich finally had to capitulate. In 1806 Napoleon conferred the title of "Duc d'Elchingen" on Marshal Ney and the name of Elchingen was engraved on the Arc de Triomphe in Paris.