Key Facts
- Main battle dates
- 16–17 May 1809
- Malborghetto action
- 15–17 May 1809
- Predil action
- 15–18 May 1809
- Predil garrison fate
- Killed to the last man
- Strategic result
- Franco-Italian forces opened invasion route into Kärnten
Strategic Narrative Overview
Eugène's main column advanced up the Fella River valley on 15 May, encountering the Austrian Malborghetto fort, which held out until the morning of 17 May before being overwhelmed. Later on the 17th, Eugène routed General Albert Gyulai's division near Tarvis, inflicting heavy losses. Simultaneously, a second Franco-Italian column advancing from the south was blocked by the Predil fort until 18 May, when it fell to assault, with the entire garrison killed.
01 / The Origins
During the War of the Fifth Coalition in 1809, Napoleon's Franco-Italian Army of Italy under Eugène de Beauharnais advanced through the Alpine passes of northeast Italy toward Austrian territory. The key mountain passes around Tarvis controlled access into Austrian Kärnten, making their seizure essential to the broader French strategic offensive against the Austrian Empire following Austria's declaration of war earlier that year.
03 / The Outcome
The fall of both blockhouses and the defeat of Gyulai's division secured all major passes in the area for the Franco-Italian forces. This allowed Eugène's army to advance into Austrian Kärnten, threatening Austria from the south as part of the wider Napoleonic campaign. Monuments erected at Malborghetto and Predil commemorate the Austrian defenders who died holding the forts against overwhelming numbers.
Belligerents & Mobilization Analysis
Side A
1 belligerent
Eugène de Beauharnais.
Side B
1 belligerent
Albert Gyulai.
Kinetic Engagement Axis
Scroll horizontally to view full axis. Events plotted relatively.