Editing War of Devolution (section)

===February 1668; the campaign in Franche-Comté===
{{Location map many|France Bourgogne-Franche-Comté|caption = Modern department of Bourgogne (left) and Franche-Comté (right); key locations 1668 campaign |border = black|width =300|float = right|relief=yes|
|label  = Besançon   |pos = right|lat_deg =47|lat_min = 14|lon_deg = 6|lon_min = 1
|label2 = Dole       |pos2 = right |lat2_deg=47|lat2_min = 05|lon2_deg = 5|lon2_min = 30
|label3 = Gray       |pos3 = right |lat3_deg=47|lat3_min =27|lon3_deg = 5|lon3_min = 36
|label4 = Vesoul     |pos4 = right|lat4_deg=47|lat4_min =37|lon4_deg = 6|lon4_min = 10
|label5 = Salins-les-Bains|pos5 = bottom|lat5_deg =46|lat5_min =57|lon5_deg = 5|lon5_min = 53
|label6  = Dijon     |pos6 = top |lat6_deg =47|lat6_min=19|lon6_deg = 5|lon6_min = 01
|label7  = Nevers    |pos7 = right |lat7_deg =47|lat7_min=00|lon7_deg = 3|lon7_min = 10
|label8  = Auxonne   |pos8 = left |lat8_deg =47|lat8_min =12|lon8_deg = 5|lon8_min = 23
}}
Throughout his career, Louis sought to improve his position prior to negotiations; in September, he decided to occupy [[County of Burgundy|Franche-Comté]]. It was almost impossible for Spain to defend, while its governor, the Marquis de Yenne, had fewer than 2,000 men to hold the entire province.{{Sfn|De Périni|1896|p=305}} French armies also benefitted from vastly superior logistics, allowing them to open campaigns before their opponents were ready. The invasion was planned for early February, normally considered impractical for troop movements, adding the factor of surprise to superior numbers.{{Sfn|Lynn|1996|p=112}}

The operation was commanded by the [[Louis, Grand Condé|Prince de Condé]]. Once France's leading general, he fought against Louis during the 1648 to 1653 [[Fronde]], then with Spain until 1659; this was his first command since returning from exile in 1660. Franche-Comté was considered part of [[Burgundy]], his family's traditional power base and his selection demonstrated royal control over an area with a long history as an independent state.{{Sfn|Swann|2003|p=44}}

To keep his opponents guessing, Louis announced plans to double the army to 134,000 and leaked details of a proposed 1668 campaign. Led by himself and Turenne, 66,000 men would complete the conquest of the Spanish Netherlands; a subsidiary force under [[Philippe I, Duke of Orléans|Philippe of Orléans]] would attack [[Catalonia]], with Condé in the [[Three Bishoprics]] to deter an attack from Germany.{{Sfn|Sonino|1989|pp=20–21}}

This provided cover for assembling troops and supplies in [[Dijon]]; by early February, Condé had 12,000 infantry and 3,000 cavalry concentrated near [[Auxonne]]. He divided the army into two columns, the other led by [[François-Henri de Montmorency, duc de Luxembourg|Luxembourg]], and entered Franche-Comté on 4 February.{{Sfn|De Périni|1896|p=305}} [[Free City of Besançon|Besançon]] and [[Salins-les-Bains]] surrendered on 7 February, after which Condé and Luxembourg moved onto [[Dole, Jura|Dole]], where they were joined by Louis on 9 February. His presence resulted in a largely unnecessary assault, which cost the French between 400 and 500 casualties, their only significant losses of the campaign. Dole surrendered on 14 February, followed by the provincial capital of [[Gray, Haute-Saône|Gray]] on 19th; Louis was back in [[Château de Saint-Germain-en-Laye|Saint-Germain]] on 24th.{{Sfn|De Périni|1896|p=306}}