At the outbreak of the War of Spanish Succession he was made supreme commander of the Prussian troops in the Netherlands. In 1703 he besieged Rheinberg and Geldern, and later Lille and Tournai. He fought in the Battle of Blenheim and played an important role in the victories in the Battle of Oudenaarde (11 July 1708) and the Battle of Malplaquet (11 September 1709).