Rossbach, Battle of

During the Seven Years' War, victory of a Prussian army led by Frederick the Great over a French–Austrian coalition 5 November 1757 at Rossbach, a small village in what was then Prussian Saxony, now Germany, about 37 km/23 mi southwest of Leipzig. Survivors of the coalition force retreated in disorder into Bavaria, while Frederick marched off to Silesia to inflict another defeat on the Austrians at Leuthen the following month.

The coalition troops were intent upon attacking Leipzig and had crossed the River Saale to confront the Prussians holding the high ground around Rossbach. Frederick drew his wing in, making a feint retreat, lured the coalition troops out of their strong position, and, once they were well spread out in what they assumed to be a pursuit, launched the Prussian cavalry, under General von Seidlitz, against the Austrian infantry, throwing them into total disarray. This was followed by a Prussian infantry charge which added to the confusion and utterly routed the rest of the coalition army which lost about 3,000 killed and wounded, 5,000 prisoners, and 63 guns.