Battle of Marengo
Part of the War of the Second Coalition
Louis-François Lejeune: The Battle of Marengo
Date June 14, 1800 Location Alessandria, Piedmont, Italy Result French victory
Combatants
French Consulate	Austrian Empire
Commanders
Napoleon Bonaparte, Desaix†	Michael von Melas
Strength
28,000, 24 guns	31,000, 100 guns
Casualties
1,100 killed, 3,600 wounded, 900 missing or captured	963 killed, 5,518 wounded, 2,921 captured

In the Battle of Marengo (14 June 1800) Napoleon's French forces drove back Austrian General Melas' surprise attack near the city of Alessandria, in Piedmont, Italy, causing the Austrians to evacuate much of Italy. The name Second Coalition (1798 - 1800) designates the second major concerted effort of multiple European powers to contain Revolutionary France. ... Image File history File links Size of this preview: 800 × 582 pixel Image in higher resolution (950 × 691 pixel, file size: 94 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) +/- Louis-François Lejeune Bataille de Marengo, 1802 Öl/Leinwand, 180 x 250 cm Versailles, Musée National du Château File links... June 14 is the 165th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (166th in leap years), with 200 days remaining. ... // ON MAY 5 1853 MR.FADER HAD SEX WITH A MAN NAME MR WIEN THEN THEY HAD SON NAMEDMRS COTURE AND MR MANOOGIAN WENT INTO MRS HASKELLS OFFICE NAKED AND DANCED AROUND AND MASTERBATED ON HER CHEST AND SHE LICKED IT OFF THEN THEY HAD ORAL SEEX WITH NAPLOEAN OF... For the Alessandria meteorite of 1860, see Meteorite falls. ... Piedmont (Italian: Piemonte) is a region of northwestern Italy. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... The Habsburg Monarchy, often called Austrian Monarchy or simply Austria, are the territories ruled by the Austrian branch of the House of Habsburg, and then by the successor House of Habsburg-Lorraine, between 1526 and 1867/1918. ... 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... Louis Charles Antoine Desaix de Veygoux Louis Charles Antoine Desaix de Veygoux (1768 - June 14, 1800), was a French military leader. ... Michael von Melas was a field marshal for the Austrian Empire during the Napoleonic Wars. ... The name Second Coalition (1798 - 1800) designates the second major concerted effort of multiple European powers to contain Revolutionary France. ... Combatants French Consulate Austrian Empire Commanders Jean-Baptiste Jourdan Archduke Charles Strength 40,000 soldiers 60,000 soldiers The Second Battle of Stockach was a battle of the War of the Second Coalition, fought between the French Consulate and the Austrian Empire. ... The battle of Cassano dAdda was a battle in the French Revolutionary Wars that was fought on April 27, 1799 near Cassano dAdda. ... Combatants France Austria Commanders André Masséna Archduke Charles Strength 30,000 40,000 Casualties 1,700 3,500 First Battle of Zurich - 4-7 June, 1799 French commander Marshal André Masséna Austrian commander Archduke Charles Conflict between revolutionary France and the Second Coalition (1798 - 1800) 40,000 Austrians... The Battle of Montebello (1800) was fought on 9 June 1800 near Montebello in Lombardy. ... Combatants France Russia and Austria Commanders General Macdonald General Suvorov Strength 33,500 32,700 Casualties 16,000 killed, wounded, and prisoners 6,000 killed, wounded & missing The Battle of Trebbia was fought on June 19, 1799 and resulted in the victory of the Austrians and Russians under Field Marshal... The battle of Novi was a battle in the French Revolutionary Wars that was fought on August 15, 1799. ... The Battle of Bergen was fought on September 19, 1799, and resulted in a French-Dutch victory under General Brune and General Daendels against the Russians and British under the Duke of York who had landed in the North of Holland. ... Combatants France Austria, Russia Commanders André Masséna Alexander Suvorov, Alexander Korsakov, Friedrich von Hotze Strength 75,000 60,000 Casualties ? 22,000 The Second Battle of Zürich took place on 25-26 September 1799, breaking the stalemate that had resulted from First Battle of Zürich three months... Guillaume Brune, commander of the Franco-Dutch troops The Battle of Castricum took place on October 6, 1799, during the War of the Second Coalition against revolutionary France. ... Combatants France Austrian empire Commanders Andre Massena Michael von Melas Strength 18,000 40,000 Casualties 11,000 total 17,000 total For other uses, see Siege of Genoa. ... Combatants French Consulate Austrian Empire Commanders General Lecourbe Prince of Lorraine The Battle of Stockach was fought on May 3, 1800 and resulted the victory of French under General Lecourbe against the Austrians under the Prince of Lorraine. ... The Battle of Hochstadt was fought by the Armenian General Hochstadt against his alter ego Pewee Herman. ... Combatants First French Republic Austrian empire Commanders General Moreau Archduke John Strength 180,000 120,000 Casualties 6,000 dead and wounded 8,000 dead and wounded, 12,000 captured, 200 cannons lost The Battle of Hohenlinden near Munich was fought on December 3, 1800, during the French Revolutionary Wars. ... Combatants United Kingdom of Great Britain Denmark-Norway Commanders Sir Hyde Parker Lord Nelson Olfert Fischer Steen Bille Strength Nelson: 12 ships of the line, 5 frigates, 7 bombs, 6 others Parker (reserve): 8 ships of the line Fischer: 7 ships of the line, 10 others Bille: 17 ships, 1... The Battle of Algeciras Bay began on July 8, British squadron of seven ships of the line, one frigate and one brig, under French squadron of three line-of-battle ships and one frigate, under Admiral Linois. ... Combatants First French Republic Great Britain Commanders General Menou # General Hutchinson Casualties 8,000 troops and civilians surrendered (later repatriated)  ? The Siege of Alexandria was fought between 17 August and 2 September 1801, during the French Revolutionary Wars, between French and British forces and was the last action of the... Jacques-Louis David: Napoleon crosses the Great St. ... Italic textThe Battle of Lodi took place at Lodi, Lombardy, Italy on May 10, 1796. ... The Battle of Millesimo was one of a seria of small battles that was fought in Northern Italy, in April of 1796. ... Battle of the War of the First Coalition which took place on 5 August 1796 at Castiglione delle Stiviere in northern Italy between a French army under Napoleon Bonaparte and an Austrian army under Wurmser. ... The Battle of the Bridge of Arcole (Le Bataille du Pont dArcole in French), occurred on November 17, 1796. ... The Battle of Rivoli was fought on January 14–January 15, 1797 at Rivoli Veronese (near Verona) in Italy and resulted in a victory for the French under General Bonaparte against the Austrians under General Alvinczy. ... Combatants First French Republic Austria Kingdom of Sardinia Commanders General Bonaparte Count Argenteau Strength 14,000 9,000 Casualties 800 killed, wounded or missing 2,500 killed, wounded, or (mostly) captured 12 cannons lost The Battle of Montenotte was fought on 12 April 1796, during the French Revolutionary Wars, between... Battle of the War of the First Coalition between French and Austrian armies which took place on 21 September 1794. ... Combatants First French Republic Austria, Kingdom of Sardinia Commanders General Bonaparte, General Massena Count Argenteau Colonel Vukassovich Strength ca 15,000 ca 5,700 Casualties ca 2,100 killed or wounded, 317 captured ca 4,700 killed, wounded or captured The Second Battle of Dego was fought on 14 and... Combatants First French Republic Austria Commanders General Bonaparte Count Wurmser Strength 20,000 ca 11,000 Casualties 400 killed, wounded or missing 600 killed or wounded 2,000 captured 30 cannons lost 8 standards lost 200 limbers and ammunition waggons lost The Battle of Bassano was fought on 8 September... Combatants First French Republic Austria Commanders General Bonaparte Baron Paul Davidovich Strength 20,000 10,000 Casualties 750 killed, wounded, or missing 3,000 killed, wounded, or (mostly) captured 25 cannons lost 7 colours lost The Battle of Rovereto (also known as Battle of Roveredo), was fought on 4 September... The Battle of Mondovì was fought on April 21, 1796 between the French army of Napoleon Bonaparte and the Kingdom of Sardinia. ... The battle of Cassano dAdda was a battle in the French Revolutionary Wars that was fought on April 27, 1799 near Cassano dAdda. ... Combatants France Russia and Austria Commanders General Macdonald General Suvorov Strength 33,500 32,700 Casualties 16,000 killed, wounded, and prisoners 6,000 killed, wounded & missing The Battle of Trebbia was fought on June 19, 1799 and resulted in the victory of the Austrians and Russians under Field Marshal... The battle of Novi was a battle in the French Revolutionary Wars that was fought on August 15, 1799. ... Combatants France Austrian empire Commanders Andre Massena Michael von Melas Strength 18,000 40,000 Casualties 11,000 total 17,000 total For other uses, see Siege of Genoa. ... The Battle of Montebello (1800) was fought on 9 June 1800 near Montebello in Lombardy. ... June 14 is the 165th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (166th in leap years), with 200 days remaining. ... // ON MAY 5 1853 MR.FADER HAD SEX WITH A MAN NAME MR WIEN THEN THEY HAD SON NAMEDMRS COTURE AND MR MANOOGIAN WENT INTO MRS HASKELLS OFFICE NAKED AND DANCED AROUND AND MASTERBATED ON HER CHEST AND SHE LICKED IT OFF THEN THEY HAD ORAL SEEX WITH NAPLOEAN OF... 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... Michael von Melas was a field marshal for the Austrian Empire during the Napoleonic Wars. ... For the Alessandria meteorite of 1860, see Meteorite falls. ... Piedmont (Italian: Piemonte) is a region of northwestern Italy. ...

Overview

French forces under Napoleon Bonaparte (newly made First Consul by the Brumaire coup) were attacked by the Austrians under General Melas. The French were taken by surprise, and fell back. However, the course of the battle was reversed by the return (in response to an urgent summons from Bonaparte) of previously detached forces under the French General Desaix. A counter attack led by Desaix , after a brief artillery bombardment, threw back the Austrian right wing and a cavalry charge by Kellermann (the son of the victor of the battle of Valmy) completed their defeat. The Austrians fell back into Alessandria, having lost about 9,500 killed, wounded, or captured. The French casualties were considerably less, but included Desaix, who was killed. 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... A title used by Napoleon Bonaparte following his seizure of power in France. ... Brumaire is the name of the second month in the French Revolutionary Calendar. ... Michael von Melas was a field marshal for the Austrian Empire during the Napoleonic Wars. ... Louis Charles Antoine Desaix de Veygoux Louis Charles Antoine Desaix de Veygoux (1768 - June 14, 1800), was a French military leader. ... Louis Charles Antoine Desaix de Veygoux Louis Charles Antoine Desaix de Veygoux (1768 - June 14, 1800), was a French military leader. ... Francois Etienne de Kellermann, Duc de Valmy (1770 - June 2, 1835) was a French cavalry general noted for his daring and skillful exploits during the Napoleonic Wars. ... Combatants France Prussia Commanders Dumouriez Kellermann Duke of Brunswick Strength 47,000 35,000 Casualties 300 184 The Battle of Valmy (September 20, 1792) saw the inexperienced armies of revolutionary France drive out an invading allied army. ... Louis Charles Antoine Desaix de Veygoux Louis Charles Antoine Desaix de Veygoux (1768 - June 14, 1800), was a French military leader. ...

Background

The Battle of Marengo was the victory that sealed the success of Napoleon's Italian campaign of 1800 and is best understood in the context of that campaign. In brief, by a daring crossing of the Alps on a mule almost before the passes were open Napoleon had placed himself across Melas's lines of communications in the belief that Melas would be forced to attack him. Melas had not done so. Napoleon became convinced that Melas would not attack, and further that Melas was about to retreat. Napoleon sent strong detachments to block Melas's routes northwards to the Po, and southwards to Genoa. At this point, Melas attacked, and Napoleon found himself at a significant disadvantage for much of the battle. Jacques-Louis David: Napoleon crosses the Great St. ...

Austrian attack

The Austrian troops (about 31,000 men, and 100 guns) advanced from Alessandria eastwards across the Bormida River by two bridges debouching in a narrow bend of the river (the river being not easily crossed elsewhere). This prevented any rapid development of their attack; the movement began about 6 a.m. , but the attack was not fully developed until 9 a.m.

The Austrian advanced guard (a force of 3,300 men under Major General Andreas O'Reilly) pushed French outposts back and deployed to become the Austrian right wing. The Austrian center (about 18,000 under Zach) advanced towards Marengo until halted by French infantry (two divisions of Victor's corps) deployed behind a stream (the Fontanone) running just in front of Marengo village. On the Austrian left 7,500 men under General Ott headed for the village of Castel Ceriolo well to the North of the French positions (in the mistaken belief that it was French-held, but threatening either a flank attack on the French position, or a further advance to cut the French line of communication with Milan). Claude Victor-Perrin, duc de Belluno (7 December 1764 – 1 March 1841) was a marshal of France during the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars. ...

The French held the line of the Fontanone until about noon; but with both flanks in the air. Although it took Bonaparte (three miles away from Marengo) until about 10 a.m. to recognize that the Austrian activity was not a diversionary attack to cover the anticipated retreat by Melas, his subordinates (Lannes and Murat) had brought their troops up in support of Victor. Lannes' troops (Watrin's infantry division and Champeaux's cavalry) had deployed on the crucial right flank. Murat's cavalry and Kellermann's heavy cavalry took up a covering position on the left flank. By 11 a.m. Bonaparte was on the battlefield and had sent urgent recalls to his recently detached forces, and summoned up his last reserves. Claude Victor-Perrin, duc de Belluno (7 December 1764 – 1 March 1841) was a marshal of France during the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars. ... Jean Lannes Jean Lannes, Duke of Montebello (April 11, 1769 – May 31, 1809), marshal of France, was born at Lectoure (Gers). ...

As they came up, these were committed to extend and shore up the French right, rather than to try to hold Marengo (where Victor's men were running short of ammunition). At about 2 p.m. the French attacked Castel Ceriolo. But at roughly the same time Marengo fell to the Austrians. The French left fell back 1-2 miles and attempted to regroup to hold the village of San Giuliano. With the French outnumbered (nominally 23,000 troops and 16 guns) and driven from their best defensive position, the battle was as good as won by the Austrians. Melas (who was slightly wounded, and 70) handed over command to Zach and the Austrians gathered a massive column for a fresh attack on the positions to which the French had fallen back.

French counter-attack

Shortly before 3 p.m., however, General Desaix, in charge of the force Bonaparte had detached southwards reported to Bonaparte in person with the news that his force (5,000 men and 8 guns of Boudet's division) were not far behind. The story goes that, asked by Bonaparte what he thought of the situation, Desaix replied Louis Charles Antoine Desaix de Veygoux Louis Charles Antoine Desaix de Veygoux (1768 - June 14, 1800), was a French military leader. ... Louis Charles Antoine Desaix de Veygoux Louis Charles Antoine Desaix de Veygoux (1768 - June 14, 1800), was a French military leader. ...

"This battle is completely lost, but it is only two o'clock, there is time to win another"

The French were fast to bring up and deploy the fresh troops in front of San Giuliano, and the Austrians were slow to mount their attack (a column of about 6,000 men). Most of the remaining French artillery was massed against the Austrian column as it advanced. Boudet's division advanced in line of brigades against the head of the Austrian column. Faced with the French line the Austrian column attempted to deploy but was hit with grapeshot at close range. Further back, an Austrian ammunition waggon exploded. In the temporary heightening of confusion the column was charged on its left flank by Kellermann's heavy cavalry (ca. 400 men) and disintegrated. Zach and many of his men were taken prisoners and the Austrian right sought safety in flight behind the Bormida, with the French in pursuit during which Desaix was fatally shot. The Austrian left under Ott withdrew in good order, but the Austrians had lost heavily in the 12 hours of fighting: 15 colours, 40 guns, almost 3,000 taken prisoner, and 6,000 dead or wounded. French casualties (killed and wounded) were of the order of 4,700 and 900 missing or captrued, but they retained the battlefield and the strategic initiative. Louis Charles Antoine Desaix de Veygoux Louis Charles Antoine Desaix de Veygoux (1768 - June 14, 1800), was a French military leader. ...

Consequences

Within 24 hours of the battle, Melas entered into negotiations which led to the Austrians evacuating Northern Italy west of the Ticino, and suspending military operations in Italy. Bonaparte's position as First Consul was strengthened by the successful outcome of the battle and the preceding campaign. Austria, however, remained at war with France until their forces north of the Alps were defeated at the Battle of Hohenlinden (3 December 1800) by a French army under Moreau. This article is about the Swiss canton Ticino. ... The Battle of Hohenlinden near Munich was fought on December 3, 1800, during the French victory under General Moreau against the Austrians under Archduke Karl, forcing him to sign an armistice. ... December 3 is the 337th (in leap years the 338th) day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... // ON MAY 5 1853 MR.FADER HAD SEX WITH A MAN NAME MR WIEN THEN THEY HAD SON NAMEDMRS COTURE AND MR MANOOGIAN WENT INTO MRS HASKELLS OFFICE NAKED AND DANCED AROUND AND MASTERBATED ON HER CHEST AND SHE LICKED IT OFF THEN THEY HAD ORAL SEEX WITH NAPLOEAN OF... Jean Victor Marie Moreau Jean Victor Mark Andrew Moreau (February 14, 1763 – September 2, 1813) was a French general. ...

Miscellany

• A famous dish of braised chicken with onions and mushrooms in a wine and tomato sauce called Chicken Marengo is named after this battle.
• In Puccini's opera Tosca, arrangements are made to sing a Te Deum (and for Tosca herself to sing at a gala evening) to celebrate Bonaparte's defeat at Marengo, news of which arrives in Act 1. In Act 2, the true situation (Napoleon has won) becomes apparent.

Chicken Marengo is so named for being the last dish that Napoléon Bonaparte ate at the Battle of Marengo (1800). ... Giacomo Antonio Domenico Michele Secondo Maria Puccini (December 22, 1858 – November 29, 1924) was an Italian composer whose operas, including La bohème, Tosca, and Madama Butterfly, are among the most frequently performed in the standard repertoire. ... Original poster Tosca is an opera in three acts by Giacomo Puccini to an Italian libretto by Luigi Illica and Giuseppe Giacosa, based on Victorien Sardous drama, La Tosca. ... Te Deum is an early Christian hymn of praise. ...

References

• Smith, D. The Greenhill Napoleonic Wars Data Book. Greenhill Books, 1998.

External links

• The Battle of Marengo - A Bicentennial Review An overview of the battle, including short summaries for beginning students and detailed analysis for more serious readers.

• The French Army 1600-1900

• Consular Guard at Marengo

• Gaspar Cugnac, Campaign of the Army of the Reserve in 1800 This link is really a taster for purchase of the whole thing: it is not live for the second volume (covering Marengo) or for the second half of the first volume
• Alex. Berthier, Relation of the Battle of Marengo
• A wargame on the battle of Marengo Interesting, but Berthier "lies like a bulletin"; the French loss of Marengo village is actually described straight-faced as a planned withdrawal to previously-prepared positions.