Louis XIV plans to conquer as many Spanish territories as possible with a new campaign, so as to use these as bargaining counters at any peace negotiations.

To this end, he plans to take the Spanish Franche-Comté.

This is isolated, and practically devoid of Spanish troops, for several reasons: France had respected the territory's neutrality in the last war against Spain; furthermore, the Spanish generals do not expect an attack by the French in the middle of winter.

Louis XIV instructs the Prince de Condé to undertake preparations for a winter campaign against the Franche-Comté.

Condé had fallen into disgrace as a former opponent of the King during the Fronde and is entrusted with a military command in 1668 for the first time in nine years.

As the Governor of Burgundy, Condé is in the best position to prepare an attack against the County.

To this end, a second army of newly raised troops is set up.

Louis XIV once again personally accompanies the campaign.

The King leaves Saint-Germain on February 2, 1668, in order to join up with the man army.

It is at this point that he receives news of the formation of the Triple Alliance; he is also informed by a spy that its members would be prepared to declare war on France.

Despite this, he persists with the campaign, as he hopes to conquer territories that would be a suitable bargaining counter in later negotiations.

General de Condé had started the invasion on February 4, and on February 7 takes the free imperial city of Besançon, which also lies in Franche-Comté.

On the same day, ...