Key Facts
- Dates
- 3–4 August 1796 (campaign 29 Jul–4 Aug)
- French commander
- General Napoleon Bonaparte
- Austrian commander
- Lt. General Peter Quasdanovich
- Campaign duration
- 7 days
- Key consequence
- Siege of Mantua raised; Austrian retreat secured
Strategic Narrative Overview
From 29 July, French and Austrian forces clashed in a series of engagements around Lake Garda. Bonaparte retook Brescia on 1 August. On 3 August, one Austrian column briefly recaptured Lonato, but French attacks seized Salò and pressed toward Gavardo. Bonaparte concentrated overwhelming strength against the isolated Austrian brigade at Lonato and crushed it. A withdrawing Austrian column was subsequently cut off and captured, effectively destroying Quasdanovich's corps as a fighting force.
01 / The Origins
In the summer of 1796, Austrian forces sought to relieve the French siege of Mantua during the War of the First Coalition. A corps under Lieutenant General Peter Quasdanovich advanced from the Alps along the western shore of Lake Garda, capturing Gavardo, Salò, and the French base at Brescia, forcing Napoleon Bonaparte to abandon the siege and respond to the Austrian counter-offensive threatening his lines of communication.
03 / The Outcome
Quasdanovich ordered a full retreat on 4 August after the destruction of his forward brigade at Lonato. With the western Austrian threat eliminated, Bonaparte rapidly redeployed and concentrated against the main Austrian army under Wurmser. The following day, 5 August, he defeated Wurmser decisively at the Battle of Castiglione, securing French control of northern Italy and maintaining the blockade of Mantua.
Belligerents & Mobilization Analysis
Side A
1 belligerent
Peter Quasdanovich.
Side B
1 belligerent
Napoleon Bonaparte.
Kinetic Engagement Axis
Scroll horizontally to view full axis. Events plotted relatively.