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Glite Dictionary
Battle of Rocroi

Battle of Rocroi

8.9
A 1643 battle in which French troops defeated the Spanish during the Thirty Years' War
  • proper noun
: Batalla de Rocroi
  • In 1643, the Battle of Rocroi resulted in a notable victory for France, altering the course of the Thirty Years' War.

Examples

  • The Spanish defeats at the battles of Rocroi, in 1643, and Lens, in 1648, were a direct result of a drastic reduction in the army's budget (Parker 1979, 40).

    Academic text (2004)

  • The Battle of Rocroi marked a turning point in the Thirty Years' War, showcasing the military strength of the French forces.

  • Historians often discuss the Battle of Rocroi as a significant moment in European history due to its impact on French-Spanish relations.

Surface Forms

Battle of Rocroi main

Morphology

battle + of + Rocroi

This is a transparent place-name construction: 'battle' + 'of' + a place name signals a battle that took place at Rocroi. While learners may not know the historical details (date or decisiveness), a B1 learner who knows the constituents will readily infer it refers to a battle at Rocroi; the same 'Battle of X' pattern exists across many languages.

Etymology

The name Battle of Rocroi comes from the small town of Rocroi, where in 1643 French soldiers defeated the Spanish army. That big win showed a change in power, so the battle is remembered as a 'turning point' in European history.