A Russian victory in the Schöllenen Gorge during Suvorov's Swiss campaign of the War of the Second Coalition.
Key Facts
- Date
- 25 September 1799
- Conflict
- War of the Second Coalition
- Campaign
- Suvorov's Swiss campaign
- Location
- Schöllenen Gorge, Saint-Gotthard Massif
- Outcome
- Russian victory
Location
Cause → Event → Consequence
During the War of the Second Coalition, Russian forces under Suvorov advanced through the Swiss Alps as part of a coordinated campaign against France. French troops under Lecourbe occupied the strategically critical Schöllenen Gorge, blocking the Russian line of march through the Saint-Gotthard Massif.
On 25 September 1799, Russian Imperial forces engaged French troops commanded by Lecourbe at the Devil's Bridge crossing in the narrow Schöllenen Gorge. The battle, which acquired legendary dimensions in Russian and Swiss memory, resulted in a decisive success for the Imperial Russian Army.
The Russian victory at Devil's Bridge allowed Suvorov's forces to advance further through the Swiss Alps, though the broader Swiss campaign ultimately ended in Russian withdrawal. The battle became celebrated in Russian military tradition and is surrounded by numerous legends and contested accounts.
Belligerents & Mobilization Analysis
Side A
1 belligerent
Alexander Suvorov.
Side B
1 belligerent
Claude Lecourbe.