Fleurus, municipality, Wallonia Region, south-central Belgium, located between the industrial region of Charleroi and the hills sloping toward Waterloo. Built on the site of a Gallo-Roman agricultural settlement and first mentioned in 868, it was chartered in 1115 and was the scene of several important battles.

Notable architectural remains include the Romanesque church (c. 1150–1200), of which only the tower and central nave stand; the Cistercian Soleilmont Abbey; the Naveau Windmill (1667; Napoleon’s observatory during the Waterloo Campaign); and the memorial (1936) to the three French military victories. In 1690 the French under Marshal Luxembourg defeated the Germans and Dutch in Fleurus. A later victory was that of the revolutionary army (led by Marshal Jourdan), over the Austrians in 1794. Then, in 1815, prior to Waterloo, Napoleon defeated the Prussians commanded by Field Marshal Blücher. Fleurus is a junction of several local railways; industries include coal mining and the manufacture of machinery, domestic appliances, and furniture. Pop. (2008 est.) mun., 22,267.

Quick Facts
Date:
June 26, 1794
Location:
Belgium
Charleroi
Fleurus
Participants:
Austria
France
Context:
French Revolutionary wars

Battle of Fleurus, (June 26, 1794), the most significant battle in the First Coalition phase of the French Revolutionary Wars. Jean-Baptiste Jourdan and Jean-Baptiste Kléber led 73,000 French troops against 52,000 Austrians and Dutch, under Friedrich Josias, prince of Saxe-Coburg, and William V, prince of Orange, stadholder of Holland. Jourdan had taken Charleroi, in the rear of Coburg’s main forces, on June 25, after besieging it since June 12. Coburg, unaware that the town had fallen, was marching to relieve it and to protect his rear forces. His five attack columns were successful at first against the French lines and inflicted very heavy casualties. The larger French force was able to endure the casualties and counterattack. Coburg retreated across the Meuse the next day with only half as many losses as the victorious French. Nevertheless, within a month, the Austrians abandoned the southern Netherlands (modern Belgium), which was annexed by France.