A decisive Austro-Russian victory near Piacenza that expelled French forces from northern Italy during the War of the Second Coalition.
Key Facts
- Dates
- 17–20 June 1799
- French casualties
- 16,500
- Allied casualties
- 5,500
- French force (fit for combat)
- ~26,000 of 33,500 total
- Allied force (19 June)
- ~22,000
- Allied forced march distance
- ~85 km in 36 hours
By the Numbers
Location
Cause → Event → Consequence
After Austro-Russian forces drove the French from much of northern Italy in spring 1799, French General Macdonald assembled occupation forces from southern and central Italy and marched north across the Apennines, hoping to link up with Moreau's army from Genoa and reverse Allied gains. Suvorov responded with a rapid forced march to concentrate his forces and block the French advance.
From 17 to 20 June 1799, the Allied army under Suvorov fought Macdonald's French forces along the Tidone, Trebbia, and Nure rivers near Piacenza. Despite the French having more troops at the outset, Suvorov used oblique order tactics and superior battlefield concentration. On 19 June, Macdonald's poorly coordinated attack was repulsed, and that night the French retreated southward. On 20 June the Allies overran French rearguard units along the Nure.
The French suffered approximately 16,500 casualties against roughly 5,500 Allied losses, a crushing disparity that ended Macdonald's attempt to reclaim northern Italy. The defeat effectively removed the French army as a fighting force in the region, consolidating Austro-Russian dominance in northern Italy for the remainder of the campaign season.
Belligerents & Mobilization Analysis
Side A
2 belligerents
Alexander Suvorov, Michael von Melas, Peter Karl Ott von Bátorkéz.
Side B
1 belligerent
Étienne Macdonald.