Battle of Beaune-la-Rolande

Battle of Beaune-la-Rolande
Part of the Franco-Prussian War
A near-contemporary depiction of the battle
Date 28 November 1870 Location Canton of Beaune-la-Rolande, France Result Prussian victory
Belligerents
North German Confederation Prussia	French Republic
Commanders and leaders
Konstantin Bernhard von Voigts-Rhetz Frederick Francis II	General Crouzat
Strength
9,000–12,000 soldiers 70 artillery pieces[1][2] Up to 40,000 soldiers and 174 guns[3]	31,000–60,000 soldiers 140 artillery pieces[1][2]
Casualties and losses
854[1]-1,000[3] killed or wounded	4,000[3]-8,000[1] casualties

The Battle of Beaune-la-Rolande on 28 November 1870 took place during the Franco-Prussian War, which was won by Prussia. In an attempt to relieve the Siege of Paris, French General Crouzat's XX Corps launched an attack against three Prussian brigades resting in Beaune-la-Rolande. These brigades were from the Prussian X Corps which was detailed to guard the flanks and rear of the force besieging Paris and provide early warning of any French counter-attacks. The French committed a force of 60,000 men, largely conscripts of the Garde Mobile, and 140 guns against the Prussians' 9,000 men and 70 guns, mostly drawn from regular troops, although military historian Gaston Bodart estimated their strength at 40,000 men and 174 guns. Despite the superiority of numbers the French attack failed to take the village and was ultimately forced to retreat by Prussian reinforcements.

Prussian losses amounted to 817 soldiers and 37 officers with the French losing between 4,000 and 8,000 men. The French XX Corps changed its plan of attack, bypassing the village, but was unsuccessful at relieving the siege of Paris, which surrendered on 28 January 1871 and ended the war. The battle is notable for demonstrating the fragility of a conscript army when faced with seasoned, regular troops even when numerically superior, and for the involvement of impressionist painter Frédéric Bazille and electrical engineer Alexander Siemens.