...Halberstadt.

Raimondo Montecuccoli, the long-serving field marshal of the imperial army, had opposed the progress of the French arms under Louis XIV, and when the inevitable war broke out he had received command of the imperial forces.

Montecuccoli and the Frederick William Hohenzolloern, the Great Elector of Brandenburg, assemble at Halberstadt in October 1672 to attack the French and the bishops of Munster and Cologne in their rear.

The Convention is immediately attacked in Britain, and George II, despite having given Cumberland authorization to negotiate terms, angrily rebukes his son on his return to London in October, compelling Cumberland to resign all his military offices.

Richelieu also faces strong criticism from Paris where the terms are perceived as far too lenient.

He has decided it is too late in the year to now commit his forces to a full attack on Prussia, which will have to wait until the following year.

Instead he moves his forces to take up winter quarters around Halberstadt, in spite of the fact he has instructions to besiege the Prussian fortress of Magdeburg.

Richelieu suddenly resigns his command ealy in the new year, and retires to France—handing over to the Comte d'Clermont.

He is widely accused of corruption during his six months as commander in Hanover.

He and his officers are suspected of having stolen three quarters of the money he was supposed to raise in taxes from the occupied territories, as well as stealing the pay of his soldiers.

His pillaging campaigns in Hanover procure him the sobriquet of the petit père de la maraude.