300 THE BOURBON AGE unable to adopt an audacious plan of campaign, and had to be satisfied with forcing the French back in the Netherlands by skilful manoeuvring. In Germany, however, success attended the French arms, and preparations were made for a great blow to be struck in 1704. The French in conjunction with the Bavarians were Blenheim to march on Vienna, counting that by seizing the Campaign, emperor's capital they would bring him to his knees and break up the coalition. But Eugene in Italy and Marlborough in the Netherlands concerted their own counter-plan for forming a junction and intercepting the French advance. Eugene withdrew his force from Italy to cover the capital. The Dutch would not allow Marlborough, who was Commander-in-chief of the allied forces, to leave the northern theatre of war ; but he tricked them by a pretended campaign on the Moselle, from which he turned and suddenly dashed to the south-east to effect a junction with Eugene. The junction was successfully accomplished, and the united armies of France and Bavaria were shattered at the decisive Blenheim, battle of Blenheim on the Danube. Half the 1704. French force was cut to pieces or compelled to surrender, Marlborough having pierced the centre and rolled up the right wing, while Eugene kept the left hotly engaged. The remnant succeeded in making good its retreat and falling back beyond the Rhine, and thenceforth Germany remained entirely in the hands of the allies. Marlborough returned to the Netherlands, where his second great victory of Ramillies two years later was followed by the Ramiiiies capture of the most important cities of the Spanish 1706. Netherlands. In the same year Eugene, who had been detained at Vienna by the death of the emperor and the accession of his son Joseph, returned to Italy, where the French had been making way under Vendome. The tables a y * there were completely turned ; the French were practically driven out of the country, and the Archduke Charles was proclaimed king at Naples. Meanwhile English forces under Peterborough had entered Spain by way of Portugal, and an English squadron had surprised and
