Italic textThe Battle of Lodi took place at Lodi, Lombardy, Italy on May 10, 1796. Napoleon Bonaparte, future Napoleon I of France, won a victory against Austrian forces. For other places called Lodi, see Lodi. ... Lombardy (Italian: Lombardia) is a region in northern Italy between the Alps and the Po river valley. ... May 10 is the 130th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (131st in leap years). ... 1796 was a leap year starting on Friday. ... Napoleon I Bonaparte, Emperor of the French, King of Italy, Mediator of the Swiss Confederation and Protector of the Confederation of the Rhine (15 August 1769 – 5 May 1821) was a general of the French Revolution, the ruler of France as First Consul (Premier Consul) of the French Republic from...

Random information! {napoleon is a very ugly person.} {what do you think the significance of his hand in his shirt and the} {way he wears his hat weirdly.} [thank you!!] {bye-bye!} {{<3 napoleon forever}}

Prelude

Having defeated the forces of Piedmont at the beginning of the campaign, Napoleon pursued the retreating Austrian forces eastward. In an effort to buy enough time to escape, the Austrians left a rearguard 7,000-strong, at a small town of Lodi, fortifying the bridge with several cannon and several thousand soldiers. Piedmont (Italian: Piemonte) is a region of northwestern Italy. ...

The battle

Napoleon decided to attack at once, and ordered a full charge across the bridge. Several French assaults were driven back with heavy losses, but Napoleon's troops continued to attack. Artillery was brought up to the riverbank to shell the Austrian forces; Napoleon sighted many of the 30 guns personally(normally an artillery corporal’s task), much to the delight of his men. French cavalry forded the river further upstream and threatened the Austrian rear. Eventually, the French succeeded in crossing the bridge and forcing the Austrians to retreat. Napoleon's troops' gave him the affectionate nickname "Le Petit Corporal" ("The Little Corporal") for his bravery in this battle.

Aftermath

By the end of the battle both the French and Austrians had suffered about 2,000 causalities. The Battle of Lodi was not a decisive engagement, since the Austrian army had successfully escaped. But it became a central element in the Napoleonic myth and solidified Napoleon's personal relationship with his troops, who admired him greatly for his personal courage and willingness to face the same dangers as common soldiers.

External Links

• The French Army 1600-1900