Key Facts
- Date
- 11–12 October 1795
- Location
- Höchst, ~12 km west of Frankfurt am Main
- Conflict
- War of the First Coalition, French Revolutionary Wars
- Result
- Austrian victory; French retreat northward
- Next actions
- Siege of Mannheim (19 Oct) and Battle of Mainz (29 Oct)
Strategic Narrative Overview
Clerfayt exploited French disunity by crossing the Main to the east, placing Austrian forces on a dangerously exposed but strategically threatening position on Jourdan's left flank. The French attacked first at Höchst on 11–12 October 1795, but were unable to dislodge the Austrian flanking column. The Austrian maneuver outpaced the French tactical effort, and Jourdan's army found itself unable to press the engagement successfully.
01 / The Origins
In 1795, Revolutionary France launched two independent armies across the Rhine to pressure the Habsburg Austrian forces during the War of the First Coalition. The northern army under Jourdan secured a bridgehead on the east bank and advanced south toward the Main River. However, the commander of the southern French army, Pichegru, proved uncooperative, leaving Jourdan isolated and allowing Clerfayt to concentrate the bulk of Austrian strength against him.
03 / The Outcome
Following their repulse at Höchst, French forces withdrew northward and ultimately abandoned the entire east bank of the Rhine. The defeat led directly to the Siege of Mannheim on 19 October and the Battle of Mainz on 29 October 1795, continuing the Austrian momentum. The episode effectively ended French offensive operations east of the Rhine for that campaign season.
Belligerents & Mobilization Analysis
Side A
1 belligerent
Jean-Baptiste Jourdan, Jean-Charles Pichegru.
Side B
1 belligerent
François Sébastien Charles Joseph de Croix, Count of Clerfayt.
Kinetic Engagement Axis
Scroll horizontally to view full axis. Events plotted relatively.