Battle of Graz

Battle of Graz
Part of the War of the Fifth Coalition

84th Line Infantry Regiment insignia showing the inscription
UN CONTRE DIX 26 Juin 1809
Date24–26 June 1809
Location
Graz, Styria, Austria
47°4′N 15°26′E / 47.067°N 15.433°E / 47.067; 15.433
Result French victory
Belligerents
Austrian Empire Austrian Empire France First French Empire
Commanders and leaders
Austrian Empire Ignaz Gyulai France Auguste Marmont
France Jean Broussier
Strength
Different estimates:
15,000[1]
20,000[2]
22,000[3]		 Different estimates:
5,000[3]
6,000[4]
(Broussier's div., excl. Marmont's corps)
Casualties and losses
980[4]–2,000[1][3] 263–900[4][3]
War of the Fifth Coalition
Map
About OpenStreetMaps
Maps: terms of use
200km
125miles
22
Armistice of Znaim from 10–11 July 1809
21
Battle of Hollabrunn (1809) on 9 July 1809 Combat of Schöngrabern on 10 July 1809
20
Combat of Stockerau on 8 July 1809
19
Combat of Korneuburg on 7 July 1809
Wagram
18
Battle of Wagram from 5 to 6 July 1809
17
16
Battle of Raab on 14 June 1809
15
Battle of Sankt Michael on 25 May 1809
Aspern
14
Battle of Aspern-Essling from 21 to 22 May 1809
12
Battle of Tarvis (1809) from 15 May to 18 May 1809
11
Battle of Wörgl on 13 May 1809
10
Battle of Piave River (1809) on 8 May 1809
9
Battle of Ebelsberg on 3 May 1809 Battle of Linz-Urfahr on 17 May 1809
8
Battle of Caldiero (1809) from 27 to 30 April 1809
7
Battle of Neumarkt-Sankt Veit on 24 April 1809
6
Battle of Ratisbon on 23 April 1809
5
Battle of Eckmühl from 21 to 22 April 1809
4
Battle of Landshut (1809) on 21 April 1809
3
Battle of Abensberg on 20 April 1809
2
Battle of Teugen-Hausen on 19 April 1809
1
Battle of Sacile from 15 to 16 April 1809
  current battle
  Napoleon in command
  Napoleon not in command

The Battle of Graz took place on 24–26 June 1809 between an Austrian corps commanded by Ignaz Gyulai and a French division led by Jean-Baptiste Broussier. The French were soon reinforced by a corps under Auguste Marmont. The battle is considered a French victory though Gyulai was successful in getting supplies to the Austrian garrison of Graz before the two French forces drove him away from the city. Graz, Austria is located 145 kilometers south-southwest of Vienna at the intersection of the modern A2 and A9 highways.

Before the Battle of Raab on 14 June, the Franco-Italian army left Broussier's division in its rear to besiege an Austrian garrison in the Graz citadel. When Gyulai's force appeared before the town in late June, Broussier retreated, allowing the Austrians to resupply the garrison. On the night of 25 June, Broussier sent two unsupported battalions of the 84th Line Infantry Regiment against the town. Surrounded by a greatly superior force of Austrians, the French stubbornly defended their position until the next afternoon, then broke out of the encirclement.

The 84th was soon joined by Auguste Marmont's newly arrived French corps. Marmont then attacked and forced Gyulai to retreat from Graz. The castle hill, however, remained in possession of its Austrian garrison. Shortly afterward, Emperor Napoleon I summoned both Marmont and Broussier to march to Vienna, where both participated in the climactic Battle of Wagram on 5 and 6 July. In recognition of its heroic action, the 84th was allowed to inscribe UN CONTRE DIX (One Against Ten) on its colors.

  1. ^ a b Epstein 1994, p. 144.
  2. ^ Arnold 1995, p. 114.
  3. ^ a b c d Bodart 1908, p. 409.
  4. ^ a b c Smith 1998, p. 318.