Battle of Málaga

24 August 1704, Off Vélez-Málaga, Spain

Indecisive; the French fleet withdrew to Toulon

The main French fleet under the Comte de Toulouse, Louis XIV's son, came out of Toulon to retake Gibraltar and met Rooke's Anglo-Dutch fleet off Málaga. It was the only great fleet battle of the war: some fifty ships of the line on each side fought in parallel lines all day, at close range, without a ship being lost on either side. Many allied ships, short of shot after the bombardment of Gibraltar, were badly damaged aloft, and the allies drew off. But the French went back to Toulon, Gibraltar was saved, and the French battle fleet never again put to sea in strength in the war.