The French defeat at Novi effectively ended their hold on the Italian Riviera and cost them their commanding general Joubert, shifting the balance in the War of the Second Coalition.
Key Facts
- Date
- 15 August 1799
- Distance from Genoa
- 58 kilometres (36 mi)
- French commander killed
- General Barthélemy Catherine Joubert
- French generals captured
- de Pérignon and Grouchy
- Conflict
- War of the Second Coalition (French Revolutionary Wars)
Location
Cause → Event → Consequence
Following major French defeats at Magnano, Cassano, and the Trebbia in 1799, French and Cisalpine troops retreated into Genoa. A new French government appointed Joubert to lead the reformed Army of Italy and ordered an offensive. The French army advanced north across mountain passes and assembled at Novi Ligure on 14 August, only to find large Coalition forces nearby.
On 15 August 1799, Austrian and Russian forces under Field Marshal Suvorov attacked the French positions at Novi Ligure. Joubert was killed at the battle's outset, with Moreau assuming command. After sustained fighting, the Coalition forces broke through French defenses on multiple flanks, forcing a disorderly French retreat and the capture of generals de Pérignon and Grouchy.
The defeat severely weakened the French grip on the Italian Riviera. However, the Coalition failed to exploit their advantage when Suvorov's Russian forces were redirected to Switzerland, a strategic shift that proved disastrous and ultimately squandered the gains made at Novi.
Belligerents & Mobilization Analysis
Side A
2 belligerents
Field Marshal Alexander Suvorov, Paul Kray, Michael von Melas.
Side B
1 belligerent
General Barthélemy Catherine Joubert (KIA), Jean Victor Marie Moreau.