First Battle of Bar-sur-Aube

First Battle of Bar-sur-Aube
Part of the Campaign of France of the Sixth Coalition

French Old Guard infantry in combat wearing their bearskin caps.
Date24 January 1814[1]
Location48°16′N 04°43′E / 48.267°N 4.717°E / 48.267; 4.717
Result See § Aftermath section
Belligerents
First French Empire France Austrian Empire Austria
Kingdom of Württemberg Württemberg
Commanders and leaders
First French Empire Édouard Mortier Austrian Empire Ignaz Gyulai
Kingdom of Württemberg Prince of Württemberg
Strength
13,000[1]–14,200
50 guns
Austria:
15,000
56 guns
Württemberg:
12,000–13,000
24 guns
Total:
25,000[1]–28,000
80 guns
Casualties and losses
700[1]–1,700 killed, wounded, or captured 1,000–1,400[1] killed, wounded, or captured
First Battle of Bar-sur-Aube is located in France
First Battle of Bar-sur-Aube
Location within France
Map
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Maps: terms of use
200km
125miles
Paris
22
Battle of Paris (1814) from 30 to 31 March 1814
21
Battle of Saint-Dizier on 26 March 1814
20
Battle of Fère-Champenoise on 25 March 1814
19
Battle of Arcis-sur-Aube from 20 to 21 March 1814
18
Battle of Limonest on 20 March 1814
17
Battle of Reims (1814) from 12 to 13 March 1814
16
Battle of Mâcon (1814) on 11 March 1814
15
Battle of Laon from 9 to 10 March 1814
14
Battle of Craonne on 7 March 1814
13
Battle of Laubressel on 3 March 1814
12
Battle of Saint-Julien (1814) on 1 March 1814
11
Battle of Gué-à-Tresmes on 28 February 1814
10
Battle of Montereau on 18 February 1814
9
Battle of Mormant on 17 February 1814
8
Battle of Vauchamps on 14 February 1814
7
Battle of Château-Thierry (1814) on 12 February 1814
6
Battle of Montmirail on 11 February 1814
5
Battle of Champaubert on 10 February 1814
4
Battle of Lesmont on 2 February 1814
3
Battle of La Rothière on 1 February 1814
2
Battle of Brienne on 29 January 1814
Bar-sur-Aube
1
First Battle of Bar-sur-Aube on 24 January 1814 Second Battle of Bar-sur-Aube on 27 February 1814
  current battle
  Napoleon in command
  Napoleon not in command

The First Battle of Bar-sur-Aube (24 January 1814) was fought during the War of the Sixth Coalition when Marshal Édouard Mortier, duc de Trévise's corps of French Imperial Guards defended against an Austrians corps under Ignaz Gyulai and a Württemberger corps led by Crown Prince Frederick William of Württemberg. After holding his main defensive positions in stiff fighting, Mortier withdrew his elite troops during the night and retreated to Troyes. Bar-sur-Aube is located 53 kilometres (33 mi) east of Troyes.

The 1814 Campaign opened with an invasion of eastern France by the main Coalition army led by Austrian Field Marshal Karl Philipp, Prince of Schwarzenberg and a second army led by Prussian Field Marshal Gebhard Leberecht von Blücher. The weak French defending forces were pushed back without too much trouble, except for Mortier's guardsmen near Langres. These crack troops made a fighting withdrawal to Bar-sur-Aube where they offered battle in a strong position. Two days after the clash, Emperor Napoleon joined his reeling forces and the major fighting began.

  1. ^ a b c d e Bodart 1908, p. 469.