A Dutch army under Menno van Coehoorn and the Earl of Athlone closed in on the French town of Givet with the aim of destroying the supplies held there.

[1] He and the Allied war planners had taken note of the war-weary French economy and planned to take the initiative in the upcoming campaign of 1696 despite their numerical inferiority.

It was with this in mind that the heads of the Allied armies in the Spanish Netherlands decided on a venture against the French supply depot at Givet, a fortress on the Meuse deep into enemy territory.

To avoid Fort de Charlemont, the fortress protecting Givet, Coehoorn remained on the eastern bank of the river.

As the Dutch had no heavy artillery with them, it was impossible to set fire to the part of Givet on the other side bank of the Meuse, nor to Charlemont immediately adjacent to it; so the French supply store of oats was spared.

[5][6] The attack was nonetheless a great success - British troops entered the undefended Petit Givet and set fire to the barracks and weapons storehouses which was where the bulk of French supplies were gathered.

[8] The attack on Givet would prove to be a great success for the Allies as it ruled out all French thoughts of launching a major offensive in 1696.

Givet was also a major factor in persuading Louis that French fortunes were instead to be sought in the Americas, which would lead to the Raid on Cartagena de Indias the next year.

British historian John Childs argued that 'Givet was the greatest strategic blow delivered by the Allies' and that it 'ranked only second to [the second Siege of] Namur; in its controbution to the coming peace.'

[6] William still hoped to take the initiative by laying siege to Charleroi, but Villeroi, the French commander, took advantage of the low number of Allied forces and moved deep into Flanders to Deinze with his army.