Battle of Tolentino
The battles of Tolentino took place the 2 and May 3rd 1815 between Austrian forces ordered by the marshal Bianchi and an Italian army carried out by Joachim Murat, king of Naples. An Austrian army, ordered by Neipperg, played a decisive part without fighting.
Historical context
After the abdication of Napoleon to Fontainebleau and the projection of the Congress of Vienna, Murat starts to understand that Austria would not respect the Convention of Naples (January 11th, 1814) and that it will not preserve his kingdom of Naples. There remains blocked in Italy of North with its army, without being authorized to cross the Austrian territories. Also, the March 18th 1815, when Napoleon unloads with Gulf-Juan, it decides to conquer Italy for its own account.
Countryside preceding the battle
A first combat takes place on March 27th. The 30, Joachim Murat publishes the Proclamation of Rimini, where it invites the Italians to be raised against the Austrian yoke. This proclamation is considered as founder of the Risorgimento , the movement of Italian revival which leads to the unit in 1870.It continues by the catch of Bologna the April 3rd, then Cento and Ferrare, before failing in front of Occhiobello. One of its armies, which occupied Tuscany, is overcome. Murat thus moves back, arrives at Ancône on April 29th. Obliged to fight, it is established with Tolentino, in the middle of the Apennin S: the situation is indeed favorable to maintain the two armies Austrian of Neipperg and Bianchi separate.
However, on April 29th, from the hussard S Hungarian remove the place of Tolentino.
Course of the battle
May 1st, the Austrians of Bianchi are established near Tolentino. Murat delegates a detachment to prevent Neipperg from rejoining Bianchi, then attacks this one, while hoping to quickly overcome it before being turned over on Neipperg. Bianchi, on the contrary, fight step by step to hold more the possible for a long time.
May 2nd, the battle starts at dawn. The first engagements allow the capture of the Bianchi marshal, released at once by a load of hussards. The Neapolitan army succeeds in advancing somewhat, but without significant profit. The castle of Rancia, Austrian outpost, is taken and taken again up to one hour of the morning (3 hours currently).
May 3rd, the fog delays the resumption of the engagements up to 7 a.m. The hills of Cantagallo are taken by the Neapolitan ones, as well as the castle of Rancia, which gives a starting point for new projections after hard combat of infantry.
However, the situation was still undecided, when Murat receives several messages:
- the army of the count de Neipperg would be advancing, the Carrascosa general having refused the combat with Cesano;
- another army Austrian arrived in the south of Italy, which threatens the retirement of Murat.
It thus sounds the retirement, which causes its defeat.
Continuations
Murat is obliged to flee: May 18th it arrives at Naples, that it leaves at once for Cannes (May 25th). It learns there that it is deposed of its title of king, arrives to Corsica on August 25th, before returning to Naples, where the Neapolitan Guerre is completed.
Battle orders
Austrian battle order
-
Commander-in-chief: Marshal Frederic Bianchi, baron;
- the 1st division (Mohr general):
- IVe brigade - (general Taxis)
- regiment of dragon S of Tuscany 726 men
- Artillery: 97 men - 6 guns - 46 horses
Total: 11 938 men - 1452 horses - 28 guns
Neapolitan battle order
-
General-in-chief: Joachim Murat, assisted of the general Millet of Villeneuve
- division of cavalry of the Guard (general Livron):
- hussard S 426 men
- hunters 200 men
- 398 riders
- Lancers 313 men
- Artillery 106 men
- Train: 133 men
- IIe division of infantry of line (general of Ambroise):
- 3rd regiment of light infantry 2203 men
- 6th regiment of infantry of line 2147 men
- 2nd regiment of infantry of line 2096 men
- 9th regiment of infantry of line 1438 men
- Train: 138 men
- Artillery: 207 men
- Anger division of cavalry of line (general Rossetti):
- 1st regiment of Light horseman S: 242 men
- 2nd regiment of Light horseman S: 628 men
- 3rd regiment of Light horseman S: 563 men
- 4th regiment of Light horseman S: 416 men
Total: 15 678 men - 4070 horses - 28 guns
Army of Carrascosa
Manpower of the army of Carrascosa, which could not prevent the projection of Neipperg.
-
Anger division of infantry of line (Carrascosa general)
- 2nd regiment of light infantry 2170 men
- 1st regiment of infantry of line 2160 men
- 3rd regiment of infantry of line 1826 men
- 5th regiment of infantry of line 1747 men
- Artillery 211 men
- Train: 142 men
- IIIe division of infantry of line (general Lechi)
- 1st regiment of light infantry 2060 men
- 4th regiment of infantry of line 2045 men
- 7th regiment of infantry of line 1843 men
- 8th regiment of infantry of line 2062 men
- Artillery 205 men
- Train: 140 men
- IVe division of infantry of line (general Pignatelli Cerchiara)
- 4th regiment of light infantry 800 men
- 10th, 11th and 12th regiments of infantry of line 1100 men
Total: 18.166 men, 1160 horses, 20 guns
external bonds
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tolentino on the BBC