Battle of Carpi (1815) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Battle of Carpi
Part of the Neapolitan War
Date 10 April 1815 Location Carpi, present-day Italy 44°47′04″N 10°52′46″E / 44.784361°N 10.879572°E / 44.784361; 10.879572 Result Austrian victory
Belligerents
Austrian Empire	Kingdom of Naples
Commanders and leaders
Frederick Bianchi	Guglielmo Pepe
Strength
2,500	5,000
Casualties and losses
116 killed or wounded	~1,000 killed or wounded 612 captured

The Battle of Carpi was an important fight during the Neapolitan War. It happened on April 10, 1815, in the town of Carpi, which is now in Italy. In this battle, soldiers from Naples, led by Guglielmo Pepe, fought against Austrian forces. The Austrians won, and the Neapolitan soldiers had to leave Carpi.

What Happened at the Battle of Carpi?

The Neapolitan War Begins

The Battle of Carpi was part of a bigger conflict called the Neapolitan War. This war took place in 1815. It was fought between the Kingdom of Naples and the Austrian Empire.

Setting the Scene

Before the Battle of Carpi, the King of Naples, Joachim Murat, had been defeated. This happened at the Battle of Occhiobello. This loss stopped the Neapolitan army from moving forward. They were on the banks of the Po River in northern Italy.

Austria's Counterattack

After their victory, the Austrians decided to strike back. They launched a counterattack against the Neapolitan army. An Austrian army group, led by General Bianchi, was ordered to march. Their goal was to push the Neapolitans out of the area around Modena.

The Attack on Carpi

General Bianchi split his forces into two groups. One group marched directly towards the town of Carpi. The other group was sent to block the Neapolitans' escape route.

On April 10, the Austrians reached Carpi. They started by firing cannons at the town's north gate. However, the main Austrian attack came from the south gate. This surprised the Neapolitan soldiers inside Carpi. There were about 5,000 Neapolitan troops, led by Guglielmo Pepe.

Neapolitan Retreat

The Neapolitan soldiers were caught off guard. They had also heard about the defeat at Occhiobello. This made their spirits drop. The Austrian attack quickly overwhelmed them. Many of the surviving Neapolitan soldiers left their posts after the battle.

Meanwhile, Michele Carascosa was in charge of all Neapolitan forces in the area. He realized his remaining troops were in danger of being surrounded. So, he ordered a full retreat from the region. The Battle of Carpi ended with a clear Austrian victory.