Battle of Chiusella River

Battle of Chiusella River
Part of the War of the Second Coalition

French infantrymen skirmishing by Felician Myrbach
Date26 May 1800
Location
Romano Canavese, Italy
45°23′N 07°52′E / 45.383°N 7.867°E / 45.383; 7.867
Result French victory[1]
Austrian victory[2]
Belligerents
France Republican France Holy Roman Empire Habsburg Austria
Commanders and leaders
France Napoleon Bonaparte
France Jean Lannes		 Holy Roman Empire Karl Joseph Hadik
Strength
12,000[3] 5,000–10,000
Casualties and losses
250–1,700 348–399
Battle of Chiusella River is located in Northern Italy
Battle of Chiusella River
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Location within Northern Italy
Battle of Chiusella River is located in Europe
Battle of Chiusella River
Battle of Chiusella River (Europe)

The Battle of Chiusella River or Battle of Romano (26 May 1800) saw the vanguard of a French Republican army led by First Consul Napoleon Bonaparte attack a Habsburg Austrian division led by Feldmarschall-Leutnant (FML) Karl Joseph Hadik von Futak. The action occurred in the Marengo campaign during the War of the Second Coalition. In May 1800, Bonaparte's Reserve Army crossed the Great St Bernard Pass into the Aosta Valley in northwestern Italy. Though its advance was delayed by Fort Bard, the Reserve Army's vanguard under General of Division (GD) Jean Lannes moved past the fort and captured Ivrea. Hadik attempted to block the French at the Chiusella River north of Romano Canavese. After a hard-fought action, the Austrians withdrew toward Turin. Hadik's battle report finally helped convince the Austrian army commander General der Kavallerie Michael von Melas that the main French threat was coming from the Aosta Valley.[4]

  1. ^ Arnold 2005, p. 105.
  2. ^ Smith 1998, p. 183.
  3. ^ Smith 1998, p. 184.
  4. ^ Arnold 2005, pp. 100–107.