a village of Germany, in the circle of Suabia, situated in E. Long. 2° 30' N. Lat. 48° 40'. This village is remarkable for the defeat of the French and Bavarians in 1704, by the English and their confederates under Prince Eugene and the Duke of Marlborough. The French army amounted to 60,000 veterans, who had shared in the conquests of their grand monarch; and were now commanded by two generals the most distinguished at that time in France, Marshal Tallard and the Duke of Bavaria. The former had established his reputation by many victories. He was active and penetrating; his ardour often rose to imprudence; and he was so short-sighted as to be incapable of seeing objects at a very small distance. The Duke of Bavaria was equally experienced in the field, and had stronger motives for activity: His country was ravaged before his eyes, and nothing remained of his possessions but the army which he commanded. The allied army, commanded by Eugene and Marlborough, amounted to about 52,000 men, troops who had long been familiar with victory, and who had seen the French, the Turks, and the Russians, fly before them. Both armies, after many marches and counter-marches, approached each other. The French were posted on a hill near the town of Hochstett; their right covered by the Danube and the village of Blenheim; their left by the village of Lutzenberg; and their front by a rivulet, the banks of which were steep and the bottom marshy. The right wing of the French was commanded by Marshal Tallard; their left by the Duke of Bavaria, and under him General Marfin, an experienced Frenchman. Their position being advantageous, they were willing to await the enemy rather than offer battle. On the other hand, Marlborough and Eugene were stimulated to engage them at all events, in consequence of an intercepted letter from Villeroy, intimating that he was preparing to cut off all communication between the Rhine and the allied army. The dispositions, therefore, being made for the attack, and the orders communicated to the general officers, the allied forces advanced into the plain, and were ranged in order of battle. The cannonading began about nine in the morning, and continued to about half after twelve. The troops then advanced to the attack; the right under the direction of Prince Eugene, the left headed by Marlborough, and opposed to Marshal Tallard. Marlborough, at the head of the English troops, having passed the rivulet, attacked the cavalry of Tallard with great bravery. This general being then reviewing the disposition of his troops to the left, his cavalry fought for some time without the presence of their commander. Prince Eugene had not yet attacked the forces of the elector; and it was near an hour before he could bring up his troops to the engagement. Tallard was no sooner informed that his right was attacked by the duke, than he flew to its head, where he found a furious encounter already begun; his cavalry being thrice driven back, and rallying as often. He had posted a large body of forces in the village of Blenheim; and he made an attempt to bring them to the charge. They were attacked by a detachment of Marlborough's troops so vigorously, that instead of afflicting the main body they could hardly maintain their ground. All the French cavalry being thus attacked in flank, was totally defeated. The English army now penetrated between the two bodies of the French commanded by the marshal and elector, while the forces in the village of Blenheim were separated by another detachment. In this distressful situation Tallard flew to rally some squadrons; but from his shortsightedness mistaking a detachment of the enemy for his own, he was made prisoner by the Hessian troops, who were in the allied army. Meanwhile, Prince Eugene on his part, after having been thrice repulsed, at last put the enemy into confusion. The rout then became general, and the flight precipitate. The consternation of the French soldiers was such, that they threw themselves into the Danube, without knowing whether they fled. The allies being now masters of the field of battle, surrounded the village of Blenheim, where a body of 13,000 men had been posted in the beginning of the action, and still maintained their ground. These troops seeing themselves cut off from all communication with the rest of the army, and despairing of being able to force their way through the allies, threw down their arms, and surrendered themselves prisoners of war. Thus ended the battle of Blenheim, one of the most complete victories that ever was obtained. Twelve thousand French and Bavarians were slain in the field or drowned in the Danube; 13,000 were made prisoners of war; and there were taken 100 pieces of cannon, 22 mortars, upwards of 100 pair of colours, 200 standards, 17 pair of kettle-drums, upwards of 3000 tents, 34 coaches, 300 loaded mules, two bridges of boats, and all the French baggage, with their military chest. Next day, when the Duke of Marlborough visited his prisoner the marshal, the latter assured him that he had overcome the best troops in the world. "I hope, Sir (replied the duke), you will except those troops by whom they were conquered." The allies, in consequence of this victory, became masters of a country 100 leagues in extent.

Blenheim-House, a noble and princely house erected in honour of the Duke of Marlborough at Woodstock near Oxford, which with the manor of Woodstock is settled on the Duke and his heirs, in consideration of the eminent services by him performed for the public; and for building of which house the sum of £500,000 was granted by parliament, &c.—The tenure by which his Grace holds the manor of Woodstock is the presenting at the castle of Windsor annually on the day in which the battle of Blenheim was fought, a flag embroidered with flowers-de-lis; which flag is shown to all strangers who visit the castle.