Battle of Rivoli

The battles of Rivoli took place the 14 and January 15th 1797 around Rivoli Veronese in the north of Italy, between the French Army and the Austrian army. It falls under the continuation of battles delivered during the Siège of Mantoue, carried out by the Armée with Italy of the French general Bonaparte and the Austrian armies sent to deliver the city.

Be a prelude to

After the victory of Arcole, the Austrian general Josef Alvinczy, finding that this last victory of Bonaparte had been lucky and that French manpower are quite lower than his (80 000 Austrians and less 50 000 French) decide to attack to relieve Mantoue besieged.

Bonaparte distributed its troops to less than three days of walk of the area of Mantoue, Rivoli and Vérone.

Unfolding

Alvinczy with 28 000 men attacks Barthélemy Joubert with the head of 10 000 men, the January 12th 1797. This last is folded up on the plate of Rivoli where it is joined by Louis-Alexandre Berthier and by Bonaparte at 2 o'clock in the morning the January 14th. It is understood that the Austrian general made the error divide his forces. Joubert receives the order to take again the vault of San Marco, and it attacks at 4 o'clock in the morning.

But the French of the body of Joubert are almost demolished, when at 9 a.m., after twelve hours of a Forced march, the division of André Masséna arrives on the battle field and turns over the situation. At 11 a.m., the French fold up themselves again and the Austrian division of Peter Quasdanovich arrives in his turn on the plate, but the Austrian soldiers, taken of a panic fear, move back. The January 15th, Joubert renews the attack and continues the demolished enemies.

Consequences

Bonaparte is free to complete the Siège of Mantoue.

Anecdote: Napoleon will call Masséna, which made 140 km in two days, the child cherished of the victory . He will say even better than the legions of César .

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