Battle of Texel, 1673 ( Third Anglo Dutch War)

The navalBattle of TexelorBattle of Kijkduintook place off the southern coast of island ofTexelon 21 August 1673 (11 AugustO. S. ) between theDutchand the combinedEnglishandFrenchfleets. It was the last major battle of theThird AngloDutch War, which was itself part of theFrancoDutch War(16721678), during whichLouis XIV of Franceinvaded the Republic and sought to establish control over theSpanish Netherlands. English involvement came about because of theTreaty of Dover, secretly concluded byCharles II of England, and which was highly unpopular with the English Parliament. The overall commanders of the English and Dutch military forces were Lord High Admiral James, Duke of York, afterwards KingJames II of England, and AdmiralGeneralWilliam III of Orange, James soninlaw and also a future King of England. Neither of them took part in the fight. Prince Rupert of the Rhinecommanded the Allied fleet of about 92 ships and 30 fireships, taking control of the centre himself