Anglo-Russian invasion of Holland

Anglo-Russian invasion of Holland
Part of the War of the Second Coalition

A painting of the Battle of Callantsoog
Date27 August – 19 November 1799
Location
Result

Franco-Batavian victory

Belligerents
 France
 Batavian Republic
 Great Britain
 Russia
Commanders and leaders
Guillaume Brune
Herman Daendels
Duke of York
Ralph Abercromby
Kingdom of Great Britain John Moore
Johann von Fersen
Magnus von Essen
Strength
25,000 40,000
Casualties and losses
7,000 killed, wounded or captured
25 ships lost
18,000 killed, wounded or captured

The Anglo-Russian invasion of Holland (or Anglo-Russian expedition to Holland, or Helder Expedition) was a military campaign from 27 August to 19 November 1799 during the War of the Second Coalition, in which an expeditionary force of British and Russian troops invaded the North Holland peninsula in the Batavian Republic. The campaign had two strategic objectives: to neutralize the Batavian fleet and to promote an uprising by followers of the former stadtholder William V against the Batavian government. The invasion was opposed by a slightly smaller joint Franco-Batavian army. Tactically, the Anglo-Russian forces were successful initially, defeating the defenders in the battles of Callantsoog, Krabbendam and Alkmaar, but subsequent battles went against the Anglo-Russian forces. Following a defeat at Castricum, the Duke of York, the British supreme commander, decided upon a strategic retreat to the original bridgehead in the extreme north of the peninsula. Subsequently, an agreement was negotiated with the supreme commander of the Franco-Batavian forces, General Guillaume Marie Anne Brune, that allowed the Anglo-Russian forces to evacuate this bridgehead unmolested. However, the expedition partly succeeded in its first objective, capturing a significant proportion of the Batavian fleet.


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