page_title: Charles William Ferdinand, Duke of Brunswick
section_title: Invasion of France
hierarchical_section_title: Charles William Ferdinand, Duke of Brunswick / Military commander / War of the First Coalition / Invasion of France
caption_attribution_description: English: The Battle of Valmy, September 20th, 1792. Français&#160;: Bataille de Valmy, le 20 septembre 1792.
context_page_description: Charles William Ferdinand, Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg, Prince of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel was the Prince of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel and Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg and a military leader. His titles are usually shortened to Duke of Brunswick in English-language sources.
  He succeeded his father as sovereign prince of the Principality of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel, one of the princely states of the Holy Roman Empire. The duke was a cultured and benevolent despot in the model of Frederick the Great, and was married to Princess Augusta, a sister of George III of Great Britain. He was also a recognized master of 18th century warfare, serving as a Field Marshal in the Prussian Army. During the Napoleonic Wars, he was mortally wounded by a musket ball at the Battle of Jena–Auerstedt in 1806.
context_section_description: The Duke was disappointed that the British remained neutral.
  His initial advance into France was slowed by poor weather, the rough terrain of the Forest of Argonne, and an outbreak of dysentery among his troops.
  The Duke was less successful against the French citizens' army that met him at Valmy. Having secured Longwy and Verdun without serious resistance, he turned back after a mere skirmish in Valmy, and evacuated France.
  Initially the Duke intended to winter in the fortress of Verdun, before resuming the campaign in France the following spring. However Kellerman's forces outflanked him by advancing up the Rhine, recapturing French possessions there. The Duke abandoned Verdun on 8 October and Longwy on 22 October, before retreating back into Germany.
  When he counterattacked the Revolutionary French who had invaded Germany, in 1793, he recaptured Mainz after a long siege, but resigned in 1794 in protest at interference by Frederick William II of Prussia.
caption: The Battle of Valmy, painted by Horace Vernet.
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