Countryside of Italy (1799-1800)

Situation

In 1799, the the United Kingdom, the Austria, the Russia and the Turkey form a new coalition against the France. Benefitting from the abscence of Napoleon Bonaparte blocked in Egypt, the Austrians launch an offensive with an aim of reconquering its Italian possessions removed by this French general the previous year.

On all fronts, the French have 150 000 men but, in Italy, the general Barthélemy Louis Joseph Schérer has under his orders only 20 with 60 000 soldiers and it makes the error to divide its army into three faces: division Sérurier with Lecco, division Attic with Cassano and division Victor with Lodi, placing them on a long cord extending from the Valteline until Pleasure, beyond the Adda.

The Armée with the Alps, directed by Championnet is stripped. Too much very few, it is quickly demolished and, decimated by the Typhus, cannot defend the border of the Alps.

Beginning of the countryside of Italy

The general Schérer who orders the Armée with Italy made up of 20 with 50 000 French soldiers, must face the 60 000 Autrichiens ordered by Michael von Mixed. Etienne Jacques Joseph Macdonald replaces Championnet with the head of the Armée with Rome and its 12 000 men.

From 30 with 50 000 Russian soldiers are awaited soon, under the orders of the field-marshal Suvorov.

The French being occupied by the difficult pacification of Naples, their force effective are decreased by half. Before the arrival of the Russian troops and in order to prevent that the situation does not become yet intolerable any more, Schérer orders an immediate attack. Macdonald must separate from part of its troops sent in reinforcement in Naples.

The arrival of the généralissime Suvorov

The Austrian troops under the orders of Paul Kray and Michael von Mixed, gain the victory with Vérone, then with Magnano the April 6th 1799. Demolishes, Schérer leaves 8 000 men in various forts of the area and orders the retirement of the remainder of the French troops. Michael von Melas wastes time to continue them and causes the displeasure of François Ier of Austria. Also, when the Russian troops enter to Italy at this beginning of spring under the command of the Feld-maréchal Alexandre Souvorov, it is with the request express of the Austrian sovereign that Russian takes, the April 18th 1799, the head of the combined armies austro-Russian in Italy. François Ier of Austria pushes the two generals to be advanced with strength, and soon the Piedmont their is acquired. The Directoire makes Schérer responsible for these defeats, and it is replaced by Moreau, general with the experiment and the recognized talent, but which had not had up to now the confidence of the Directory. Moreau and its lower troops of number try to defend the ground step by step, but a new defeat with Cassano April 26th and 27th, obliges it to order the retirement of Lombardy, evacuating the places of Alexandria and Turin, and being withdrawn on the Suisse.

The situation seems desperate for the French Army, demolished of too many time, fresh troop and material lack. French moves back and must give up Milan in Suvorov.

12 000 men of the general Macdonald leave Naples then to support Moreau and join Victor division that Moreau sends to its meeting. Before leaving, Macdonald makes occupy and supply the fortified towns of Fort Saint-Elme, Capoue, Gaète and Saint-Angelo. This decision proves not very strategic, because these place-strong falls soon to the hands from the English.

An attack of the Allies, crossing the Po, fails on May 11th. The army of Moreau, reduced to 9 000 valid men, is decimated. An attempt at counter-attack fails vis-a-vis the men of the general Pyotr Bagration. Suvorov occupies Turin very quickly and proclaims the restitution of the Piedmont to its king, Charles Emmanuel IV. The opposition of the Austrian generals gives birth to between them and this last a beginning from disagreement.

The impossible junction

Engage during a time an incredible race between Macdonald and Moreau to reunify the Army of Italy, cut into two by the operations of Souvorov.

The walk of Macdonald

Macdonald carries out an impressive walk, which passes by the Papal States, the Toscane, to arrive at the outlets of the the Apennines. It beats the Austrians with Sarzana and Pontremoli, which opens a way to him to communicate with Genoa, and is cut off in Pistoja, to await Moreau, which was withdrawn, of dimensioned sound, in Piedmont.

Macdonald written with the Directory to offer its resignation and to suggest a regrouping of the two armies under the orders of Moreau. In absence of answer of Paris, Macdonald prepares a plan of operation combined, hoping that Moreau will advance, and cut the lines of communications of Souvorov. But Moreau remains between Genoa and the Scrivia, which leads Macdonald to only operate. Of their dimensioned, the Russians go on Trebie.

Errors of Moreau

Moreau makes retirement on the Tésin, whereas it should have done it by the bridge of Plaisance, on Right Bank of the Po. He does not manage to make the junction with the Armée with Naples only order Macdonald, and which is moving to approach Po, leaving in Souvorov the leisure go on Genoa and entirely cut it army of Naples. Realizing its fault, it returns in all haste, by Right Bank of Po, on Alessandria. A few days later, it makes a similar error again, while going on Coni, by entirely giving up the army of Naples and the heights of Genoa.

While it goes to the West, Macdonald arrives with the army of Naples on Spezia. Instead of operating its junction on Genoa, behind the Apennin, and to lead, joined together to the Bocchetta, to make raise the seat of Mantoue, Moreau prescribes in Macdonald to pass Apennin and to enter the valley of the Po to operate its junction on Tortone. Isolated, the army of Naples must support all the efforts of the enemy to the battles of Trébie.

The Army of the Alps de Championnet

The Armée with the Alps (directed by Championnet) returns in the conflict and engages then the army Austro-Russian in a series of minor skirmishes, but does not manage to save Moreau and its men. Suvorov takes a series of French garrisons and continues its advance relentless. Etienne Macdonald and its men tries to be opposed to it, on June 19th, with the Bataille of Trébie where they are beaten.

With the remainder of its army Macdonald flees towards Genoa, a retirement which will be worth to him the admiration of Soult, whereas Suvorov attacks Novi. Patient and badly given of received wounds on June 12th to Modena, Macdonald leaves Genoa bitter, letting Moreau try to join his army, and goes to Paris.

Changes of generals

Moreau, which hopes a long time to be reinforced by Macdonald, manages to join together means enough to oppose a sufficient resistance to progress of Souvorov. It gains on June 22nd, the victory of San-Giuliano. The river of Genoa becomes a barrier which the Russian general cannot cross. The the Council aulic, Austrian command, then orders a halt in the united offensives, whereas the garrisons of Mantoue and Alexandria are taken. Suvorov, stops its attack to find forces before a decisive offensive in autumn.

The Directoire worries. Moreau is sent to join the Armée with the Rhine. Joubert is named general-in-chief of the Armée with Italy, with Suchet, for Head of State major. But on August 15th, with the Bataille of Novi Joubert finds death. It is the last victory of Souvorov in Italy and still it is highly disputed.

Moreau, which did not leave yet, takes again the initiative, operates a glorious retirement in front of higher forces and carries out finally the survivors towards Genoa, with the meeting of the army of Macdonald, where it prepares the city in a state of siege. Finally, according to the order of the Directory, Moreau leaves the command to Championnet and returns to Paris. The new commander-in-chief is beaten with Genola, on November 4th. Little time after, bursts the Coup d'etat of the 18 brumaire of year VIII (November 9th 1799).

Disagreement

At that time, the disagreement between the Russian general and the generals Austrian increase. Souvorov is not long in complaining to be badly assisted by the Austrians. On its side the Russian cabinet is indignant at the order given to the Charles archduke to go towards the Suisse. Paul Ier, in his turn, prescribed in Souvorov to give up Italy and the Austrians, to go, with the little of troops which remain to him with the meeting of the general Korsakov and to take the command of all the Russian forces which enter in Helvétie.

At the beginning of Russian, Mixed, which remains ordering Austrian troops, stops the offensive and consolidates its forces. This respite granted to the Armed with Italy mark a decisive turn in the court of the war.

To the autumn, Souvorov passes the collar of the Saint-Gothard in order to support the general Korsakov who is on the point of invading France. Badly supported by the Austrians jealous of successes of the Russians, Korsakov is beaten with the battles of Zurich, the September 25th, by the Armée with Helvétie of the general André Masséna. The Russians are then obliged to fold up itself towards the Vorarlberg.

Shocked, Paul {{1st}} dissolves alliance and points out Souvorov. The field-marshal gives up the Austrians with themselves and brings back to his sovereign the remainders of his army. However the situation in Italy remains clearly with the advantage of the coalition. Mixed has 100.000 men under its orders, to oppose to 50.000 dispersed French. The allies prepare a decisive movement in the south of France, and beyond the Rhine. Mélas advances slowly, posing the seat in front of Genoa.

The arrival of Bonaparte

The rescue plan of the Consul

During the conflict, takes place the Coup d'etat of the 18 Brumaire. Returned of Egypt and coldly appointed First Consul, Bonaparte names Masséna to replace Championnet, which, patient of Typhus, required to be raised. With under its orders the generals Soult and Suchet, Andre Masséna and his Armed with Helvétie share to support besieged Genoa.

During this time, in Lyon, Bonaparte constitutes an army to support the troops of Masséna, blocked since months by the seat of Gènes and which misses food. As it does not have Constitution nellement not the right to order an army on an external theater of operation, it forms a reserve army, in the rows of which one finds in particular Dupont of the Pond and Desaix, which insisted.

The First Consul entrusts to Moreau the principal action of its plan, i.e. the attack of Austria by the south of Germany. During this time, itself will pass the Alps by the collar of Saint-Gothard, then will wrap the Austrian army and will melt on its backs. But Moreau, frightened by this double operation, delays to carry out it.

For this time, the Austria maintains its army of Germany on the defensive and concentrates all its effort on the Italy. The division of the general Suchet is rejected into the Var. The delay of Moreau, which must make diversion by attacking in Germany the general Kray, but especially the hardness of the seat of Genoa, obliges Bonaparte to cross the Alps by the shortest way, but also one of most difficult: the Large-Saint-Bernard. He designed a new operation: to occupy, on the road of Pleasure to Genoa, the procession of the Stradella to force the Austrians with the retirement and to cover Milan.

The crossing of the Alps

The French forces directed by Bonaparte are made up of 40.000 men, of which the Consular Garde. It has divisions Watrin, Chambarlac, Gardanne, Boudet, Mounier and of the lieutenant-generals Murat, Lannes and Victor.

As of on May 15th, Bonaparte concentrates its forces in the area of Martigny, in Suisse, in order to pass to Italy by North. Lannes order avant-garde with six half-brigades. In same time, division Moncey crosses by the Saint-Gothard, division Lechi by the Simplon pass, division Chabran by the Small-Saint-Bernard and division Thureau by the Mount-Cenis.

This crossing, glorifiée a posteriori, will strongly contribute to the legend and the Propagande of Napoleon Empereur.

As of on May 20th, Lannes arrives in front of the Fort of Bard which controls the output of the road towards the plain of Po, at the exit of the collar of the Saint Bernard. This fort is defended by an Austrian company. In same time, the French artillery passes the collar, in spite of the difficulties. While Lannes circumvents the position, part of the French forces besieges the place. Dupont of the Pond between (with its men) the first in the town of Hand-barrow and is announced to the attack of the fort May 21st and 22nd 1800. May 23rd, the passage is finished. Lannes, always in avant-garde, arrives at Ivrée. Loison division takes Crémone. June 2nd the Petit Corporal enters to Milan.

The heroism of Soult

The defense of the country of Genoa remains like one of the most glorious pages of the career of the general Soult: almost each day is marked by a brilliant deed. April 6th, in a first exit, to the head of several battalions, it crosses the Austrian army boldly and delivers the general Gardanne, delivers several engagements to the enemy, rejects it beyond Piotta, seizes Sassello, gains new successes with Laying-Junera, the attack of the Hermette, and returns in Genoa with many prisoners, guns and flags.

In a new exit, the Soult general crosses the Austrian army again, removes a division with Assembles-Facio. Lastly, it delivers a last combat to Montecreto, where a shot crashes to pieces the leg to him. Remained with the capacity of the enemy, he remains prisoner.

The fall of Genoa

Genoa falls on June 4th, before the First Consul cannot reach it. Bonaparte must still change plan of countryside.

The Admiral Keith will honor defense relentless with Masséna. Bonaparte advances its army with forced march to strike the Austrians before they can be begun again. The return of Napoleon Bonaparte comes at the right moment named to record courage of the troops of Masséna, severely worn.

To avoid a junction of the Austrians with the British, awaited with Genoa, Bonaparte must hang Melas between Novi and the coast. The first confrontation takes place on the Stradella. The Reserve army (directed by the general Jean Lannes and cash in its rows the general Desaix) fights with Bataille of Montebello the June 9th, little before large the Bataille Marengo. It is a victory.

Marengo

June 13rd, Bonaparte still did not locate the large one of the enemy army. It thus sends the following day its army to various strategic points. Two divisions are sent in recognition: division Lapoype on left bank of the Po, and with the south the division of Desaix. A few hours later, the Austrians cross the Bormida, by two bridges which the French curiously did not destroy. During the night from June 13rd to 14th, the Austrians bivouac opposite the French troops with prohibition to make fire.

The consul was almost beaten here, before the decisive arrival of the reinforcements of the general Desaix, left as a scout. Indeed this last, has which Napoleon required to leave as a scout, decides to disobey while intending to thunder the guns on its backs. Desaix charges with the head with its division, while the French cavalry surprises the Austrians. Desaix will cross the messenger whom had made him send in all Bonaparte haste. Desaix will remotivera the troops and even the future emperor.

The retirement of Melas turned over the French rout in victory. In the counter-attack, Desaix is killed, but Bonaporte will honor its name with several monuments commemorating its courage. Its name is on the Triumphal arch, which was set up to celebrate the victories of the empire, like that the Marengo one. The general will be carried in triumph by Bonaparte, grateful towards his friend in many recoveries it will rent the general

Consequences

The shortly after this battle, on June 15th, 1800, Melas negotiates with the general French Dupont of the Pond the capitulation of Alexandria. This capitulation delivers to the French twelve fortified towns and Italy until Mincio, i.e. all that they had lost for fifteen months except for Mantoue. The Dupont general then accepted the title of extraordinary Minister provisional for the French government in Piedmont on June 23rd 1800, and was charged to reorganize the République cisalpine.

The men of the Suchet general take again Genoa on June 22nd 1800.

On order of the First Consul, the Reserve army integrates the Armée with Italy and this one from now on is ordered by Masséna. But its glory was of short duration, because of complaints for exactions, and its insatiable greed and celebrates, it was replaced by the general Brune.

Marengo was the last major battle on the Italian face, during the Guerres of the French revolution. After the Battle of Hohenlinden, the Austrians are forced to negotiate, and the war stops a little later contributing to the legend of Bonaparte, hero within the République.

Conclusion of the countryside

Whereas Napoleon returns to Paris on June 17th, letting its generals regulate the war in Italy, Brune must rather quickly be opposed troops of Heinrich Johann de Bellegarde. Dupont, replaced on August 15th by Jourdan as a general administrator of the Piedmont, becomes the lieutenant of the general-in-chief Brune, taking the command of the right wing of the army of Italy on August 28th. Dupont is charged by Brune on October 6th with invading the Toscane. October 15th, it entered to Florence, where it establishes a provisional government, and, the October 23rd, it was in Leghorn. The general Suchet, him, order the center of the army, composed of three strong divisions of 18.000 men.

The general Soult, released in Marengo, will be charged end 1800 to pacify the Piedmont. He receives the command of the southern part of the Royaume of Naples. Its energy managed to subdue the insurrection known as of the Barbets . It even succeeds in disciplining them and enlisting them.

The line of Mincio

The Austrian general Bellegarde still occupies the line of Mincio with 70.000 men, supported on a side to the Lake Garda and other with Mantoue. The Macdonald general had received the order to cross the Alps with the army of the Grisons, while the Brune general was to go back to north, to join Macdonald, then to go both to the sources of the Mincio and the Adige to make fall all the defensive line from the Austrians, which extended from the Alps in the Adriatic. Dupont left Tuscany on November 2nd to join large army. December 15th, Macdonald passed Splügen and arrived in front of the Italian Tyrol. It remained in Brune to force the passage of Mincio, and on December 20th, it removed the Austrian positions in front of this river.

The general Delmas ordered the avant-garde, Moncey the left, Michaud the reserve, while Dupont had the command of the right-hand side. Mincio, enlarged by the rains, was not guéable, and the bridges of Borghetto and Vallegio were firmly cut off. Brown solved to try the passage in two points: with Pozzolo and Mozzembano, this last point having to be selected for the serious attack. The great attack of Mozzembano and the Pozzolo of Pozzolo were indicated for the night from December 24th to 25th.

Mozzembano and Pozzolo

The 25 in the morning, Dupont, in charge of the diversion, crowns artillery the heights of Moulin of Volta, throws a bridge, and, supported by the fog, carries on the other side of the river division Watrin. However, to Mozzembano, the attack was given and Dupont only finds himself on left bank against all the Austrian army. Bellegarde directs tightened masses against the body which crossed the Mincio.

Dupont made warn Suchet, which observed, between Pozzolo and Mozzembano, the bridge cut off from Borghetto. Suchet runs, as for Brune, it is satisfied to replace in front of Borghetto the body of Suchet by division Boudet. Dupont, worrying little to be constant, had engaged, removed Pozzolo and established a new division on left bank, division Monnier. Under the protection of its batteries, it supported a formidable attack, but the number ends up carrying it: Monnier is driven out of Pozzolo and Dupont will be rejected in the river, when Suchet takes on him to detach the brigade Clauzel and part of division Gazan. Suchet supports the passage of these reinforcements by a fatal artillery fire from Right Bank. That makes it possible to save and disengage the troops of the Dupont general.

Dupont takes again the offensive, Pozzolo is disputed with eagerness, taken and taken again six times. The combat is prolonged all the day and 6.000 men fall on the two sides. The come evening, Dupont kept under control point of left bank against an enemy three times higher of number, and the following day, Brune decided to pass to Mozzembano, but the honor of the passage and the defeat of the Austrians returned to Dupont. Suchet makes with him 4.000 prisoners on the general Bellegarde.

End of the campaign

The same day, the Armistice of Steyr is signed in the north of the Alps. Signed not far from Vienna, by Moreau and the archduke Charles, the armistice puts an end to armed confrontations between French and Austrians.

The hostilities continue in Italy. The Armée with Italy seizes Vérone, of Vicence, Mantoue, Ferrarre. The general Brown sign as a winner the armistice of Trévise on January 16th 1801 which obliges the Austrians to be withdrawn beyond Tagliamento. This one which was soon followed Paix of Lunéville, with the victory of Moreau to the Bataille of Hohenlinden.

The peace of Lunéville confirms old the Traité of Campo-Formio of October 17th 1797 and the ousting of the Austrians of Italy.

The Austria gives up the territories which it had Netherlands, recognizes with the Republic the possession of left bank of the Rhine and gives up in Italy any claim on the territories in the south and the west of the Adige which constitute the République cisalpine to which belongbelong Parma and Modena.

The duke of Tuscan, also dispossessed, sees himself offering the archbishop's palace of Salzburg and the duke of Modena the Austrian Brisgau. As for the duke of Parma, a Bourbon of Spain, it obtains the Toscane with the title of king of Eturie, Spain in front of, in exchange, to restore the Louisiana in France. Austria however preserves in Italy the the Tyrol of the South, old possession of Habsbourg, and the Venezia obtained with the treaty of Campo-Formio.

The one century turning

The countryside of Italy forecast many things: It allowed the coup d'etat of Napoleon Bonaparte, and devoted many of its future generals and marshals Empire. It as made it possible Napoleon to sit fear as its adversaries of the various coalitions had some, which will not cease being opposed to him.

This countryside, very mediatized a posteriori will then make the legend of Napoleon Bonaparte Consul, liberator of the people, promulgator of the ideas of the French revolution, creator of République S. It is this legend, which will contribute at the height engagement Romantique behind Bonaparte. And the happiness of its adversaries and criticisms like Talleyrand.

The difficult passage of the Alps, Napoleon in the middle of his troops, giving him a reputation of demanding general, but near of its faithful.

Some make also this campaign the beginning of the decline of the imperial Austria of the Habsbourg, and the beginning of the Unification of Italy, in the shape of a republic.

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