Battle of Chiari facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Battle of Chiari
Part of the War of the Spanish Succession
Battle of Chiari, Jan van Huchtenburg
Date 1 September 1701 Location Chiari, Lombardy, Italy 45°32′N 9°56′E / 45.533°N 9.933°E / 45.533; 9.933 Result Austrian victory
Belligerents
Austria	France Spain  Savoy
Commanders and leaders
Eugene of Savoy	Duke of Villeroi
Strength
22,000	38,000
Casualties and losses
200-300 killed and wounded	2,000-3,800 killed and wounded

The Battle of Chiari was a big fight that happened on September 1, 1701. It was part of the War of the Spanish Succession, a huge conflict over who would rule Spain. This battle took place in Italy.

Prince Eugene of Savoy, a skilled Austrian general, was trying to take control of the Duchy of Milan. This area in Italy was then controlled by Spain. Eugene had already won a battle at Carpi in July. After that loss, King Louis XIV sent a new commander, Marshal Villeroi, to lead the French, Spanish, and Savoyard armies. Villeroi's orders were clear: push Eugene's forces out of Italy!

Eugene knew Villeroi would attack. So, he dug in his troops near the small fortress of Chiari. He waited for the attack. The battle lasted several hours. The Austrians caused huge losses for Villeroi's army. This was a big win for Eugene. His victory helped convince other powerful countries, like England and the Dutch Republic, to join forces with the Austrian Emperor. Just one week after the battle, these countries signed an important agreement called the Grand Alliance.

Before the Battle

After losing at the Battle of Carpi in July 1701, the French commander, Nicolas Catinat, quickly moved his army back. This left Prince Eugene in charge of a large area between two rivers, the Mincio and the Adige. Eugene then crossed the Mincio, pushing the French even further back across another river, the Oglio.

The north Italian campaign, 1701.

King Louis XIV was very upset that Catinat's army, which was smaller, couldn't stop Eugene. So, he replaced Catinat with an older general, duc de Villeroi. Villeroi arrived in late August with orders to fight a battle. Louis XIV really needed a victory to keep Italy loyal to his grandson, Philip V, who was now the King of Spain.

Villeroi joined his army, which included generals like the Duke of Savoy and Catinat. He was confident he could drive Eugene's army out of Italy.

The Fight Begins

Eugene was ready for a big battle. He waited on the east side of the Oglio River for Villeroi to attack. Eugene had picked his spot very carefully. He dug trenches for his soldiers and cannons in front of the small fortress of Chiari. Streams protected his position on three sides. This meant the French cavalry (soldiers on horseback) couldn't easily attack. Eugene knew the French infantry (foot soldiers) would have to attack head-on. He also placed two groups of soldiers and some cannons inside Chiari itself.

Villeroi didn't listen to Catinat, who warned him that Eugene was in a strong position. Villeroi said that the King had sent many brave soldiers not just to look at the enemy. On September 1, the French and Spanish foot soldiers moved forward. Villeroi had been told that Eugene's army was leaving. He crossed the Oglio River, expecting to attack their rear (the back of their army).

The attack started around 2 p.m. Three French groups of soldiers reached Chiari and quickly took over the Imperial troops there. But instead of finding the back of Eugene's army, the French commander found Eugene's entire army dug in and ready. As the French and Spanish army got closer, Eugene told his men not to fire. They loaded their cannons with "canister shot," which is like a giant shotgun shell. They waited until the enemy was very close. Then, they fired a powerful blast. This caused a lot of confusion among the attackers. The French and Spanish commanders couldn't control their soldiers. While this was happening, Eugene's troops fought hard and took Chiari back.

Initial disposition of both forces.

The French and Spanish forces were pushed back with heavy losses. This battle was one of the most damaging fights in Italy during the war. Eugene's army had only minor losses, but they caused over 3,000 casualties (killed or wounded) among the enemy soldiers and over 250 officers. This number grew quickly as many wounded soldiers got sick.

Villeroi lost control during the battle. Catinat, even though he was wounded, had to organize the retreat. The French dug in about a mile away from the Austrians. Both armies stayed there for the next two months. The French were too discouraged to attack again. Eugene didn't want to risk his gains by attacking the French in their strong position. As autumn went on, conditions got worse for both sides. Food for horses was so scarce that Eugene's horses had to eat fallen leaves. But the French, whose camp was in a swampy area, suffered the most. They moved out in mid-November, crossing the Oglio River to set up winter camps in the Duchy of Milan.

What Happened Next

In Milan, the French army became very unpopular. They demanded a lot of money from the local people for soldiers' pay, housing, and food for horses. Most of this money had to be taken by force. For his winter camps, Eugene took control of almost the entire Duchy of Mantua, except for its capital city. He also blocked off other areas. Eugene had a good relationship with the local people because he kept his soldiers under strict control. He even executed 48 of his own men for stealing. He told the Emperor that he had "imposed more severe discipline than has possibly ever been seen in an army."

Eugene didn't get much money from the Emperor, much less than he expected. But he had gained a strong foothold in northern Italy. Just as he hoped, his success helped convince other powerful countries to help the Emperor. Since the beginning of the year, Count Wratislaw had been in London, asking for help for the Emperor. With Eugene's two victories (Carpi and Chiari), the Emperor had shown he would fight for his interests. This gave Wratislaw the reasons he needed to form an alliance with England and the Dutch Republic. On September 7, 1701, just a week after the battle, England and the Dutch Republic signed the second treaty of the Grand Alliance. They supported the Emperor's claims to the Spanish lands in Italy.

The French were still in Milan, but their situation was weak. Their soldiers felt discouraged, and many were leaving the army. King Louis XIV wrote to Villeroi, telling him to work closely with Catinat. He also warned him "not again to attack the enemy without advantage." He said, "If you do... the King, my grandson, will lose Italy." By October, the French were no longer hopeful about the campaign. But Louis XIV hoped to send more soldiers for the next year's fighting. He thought the Emperor wouldn't be able to make Eugene's army much stronger. However, the fighting season wasn't over yet. As Villeroi settled down for the winter, Eugene was getting ready to attack him at his headquarters in Cremona.

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