Battle of Fleurus

In the Battle of Fleurus (26 June 1794) French forces under Jourdan defeated an Austrian army under Saxe-Cobourg in one of the most decisive battles in the Low Countries during the French Revolutionary Wars.

Both sides had forces numbering in the vicinity of 80,000 men but the French were able to more effectively concentrate their forces in order to achieve victory against the Austrians.

The French use of the reconnaissance balloon l'Entreprenant marked the first military use of an aircraft that had decisive influence on the outcome of the battle.