Second Battle of Novi (1799)

The Second Battle of Novi or Battle of Bosco (24 October 1799) saw a Republican French corps under General of Division Laurent Gouvion Saint-Cyr face a division of Habsburg Austrian soldiers led by Feldmarschall-Leutnant Andreas Karaczay. For several hours the Austrians defended themselves stoutly, relying on their superior cavalry and artillery. By the end of the day the French and allied Poles routed the Austrians from their positions in this War of the Second Coalition action. Novi Ligure is south of Alessandria, Italy.

Second Battle of Novi (1799)
Date24 October 1799
Location
Novi Ligure, present-day Italy
44°45′42″N 8°47′26″E / 44.76167°N 8.79056°E / 44.76167; 8.79056
Result French victory
Belligerents

France France

Holy Roman Empire Habsburg monarchy
Commanders and leaders
France L. Gouvion Saint-Cyr
Jan Dąbrowski
Holy Roman Empire Andreas Karaczay
Strength
France 12,000 Holy Roman Empire 5,000
Casualties and losses
1,200 1,300, 4 guns
Map
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30miles
Marengo
12
Battle of Marengo on 14 June 1800
11
Battle of Montebello (1800) on 9 June 1800
10
Siege of Genoa (1800) from 6 April to 4 June 1800
9
Battle of Genola on 4 November 1799
8
Battle of Novi (1799) on 15 August 1799 Second Battle of Novi (1799) on 24 October 1799
7
Siege of Mantua (1799) from April–July 1799
6
Battle of Trebbia (1799) from 17 to 20 June 1799
5
Battle of Modena (1799) on 12 June 1799
4
Battle of Bassignana (1799) on 12 May 1799
3
Battle of Cassano (1799) on 27 April 1799
2
Battle of Magnano on 5 April 1799
Verona
1
Battle of Verona (1799) on 26 March 1799
  current battle
  Napoleon in command
  Napoleon not in command

A string of defeats, culminating with the Battle of Novi on 15 August 1799 left the French Army of Italy clinging to Genoa, Cuneo and the crests of the Ligurian Alps. An Austrian threat to Genoa was met with Saint-Cyr's strong thrust north through Novi against Karaczay's division at Bosco Marengo. Farther west, Jean Étienne Championnet with the main body of the Army of Italy clashed with Michael von Melas's Austrians at Genola on 4 November.

References

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  • Acerbi, Enrico (2008). "The 1799 Campaign in Italy: The Last Battles & the End of the Directory's Wars August-December 1799: Battle at Bosco". The Napoleon Series.
  • Duffy, Christopher (1999). Eagles Over the Alps: Suvarov in Italy and Switzerland, 1799. Chicago, Ill.: The Emperor's Press. ISBN 1-883476-18-6.
  • Phipps, Ramsay Weston (2011) [1939]. The Armies of the First French Republic and the Rise of the Marshals of Napoleon I: The Armies of the Rhine in Switzerland, Holland, Italy, Egypt, and the Coup d'Etat of Brumaire (1797-1799). Vol. 5. Pickle Partners Publishing. ISBN 978-1-908692-28-3.
  • Smith, Digby (1998). The Napoleonic Wars Data Book. London: Greenhill. ISBN 1-85367-276-9.