Battle of Cremona facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Battle of Cremona |
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| Part of the War of the Spanish Succession | |||||||
 Battle of Cremona |
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| Belligerents | |||||||
 Habsburg Monarchy Danish Auxiliary Corps |
 Kingdom of France |
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| Commanders and leaders | |||||||
| Prince Eugene Prince de Vaudémont |
duc de Villeroi | ||||||
| Casualties and losses | |||||||
| 800 killed and wounded 400 captured |
1,200 killed and wounded 300 captured |
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The Battle of Cremona was a surprise attack that happened on the night of January 31 to February 1, 1702. It was part of a big war called the War of the Spanish Succession. The battle was fought in the city of Cremona (which is in modern-day Italy). One side was the French army, led by Maréchal Villeroi. The other side was an army from the Austrian Empire, led by Prince Eugene of Savoy.
Why was Cremona Important?
The areas of Milan and Mantua were very important. They were like a gateway to Southern Austria. In early 1701, the French army took control of both these places. But then, Emperor Leopold sent Prince Eugene to get them back.
Prince Eugene was a very skilled general. He was great at outsmarting the French commanders. He won battles at Carpi and Chieri. After these wins, his army settled down for winter in the Duchy of Mantua. This area was friendly to the French. Eugene didn't have much money or supplies from Vienna. So, he had to come up with a clever plan. Fighting in winter was unusual, so he hoped to catch the French by surprise.
The Battle Begins
Prince Eugene had a secret helper inside Cremona. This helper was a priest named Cuzzoli. On the night of January 31, 1702, the priest let a group of Austrian soldiers into the city. They used a hidden underground passage. These soldiers quickly took control of the St. Margaret Gate.
Once the gate was open, about 4,000 more soldiers rushed in. Prince Eugene himself led this attack. The French soldiers were completely surprised. Many were killed as they came out of their sleeping areas. The French commander, Maréchal Villeroi, was even captured in his own room!
French Fight Back
A second, larger group of Austrian soldiers was supposed to attack another gate. This group was led by Prince de Vaudémont. They were meant to storm the Po gate and the Citadel. But they arrived late. This delay gave the French soldiers inside Cremona time to react. They managed to destroy a key bridge and get ready for the attack.
Two units from the Irish Brigade fought back bravely. These were the Régiment de Dillon and the Régiment de Bourke. They stopped the Austrian attack at the Po gate. The French defenders then regrouped and launched their own counter-attack. As daylight arrived, a French relief force also showed up. Seeing this, Prince Eugene ordered his troops to leave the city. The Austrians lost about 1,600 soldiers. The French lost around 1,100.
What Happened After?
The two Irish units fought very hard. They lost about 350 out of 600 men. Their commander, Major Daniel O'Mahoney, was later honored by King Louis XIV. He was even knighted by James III, a Scottish king living in exile. Major O'Mahoney went on to have a great military career. He fought in Spain and Sicily. He became a Lieutenant-General and died in Ocaña, Spain in 1714.
Maréchal Villeroi was soon released after being captured. But his capture was remembered in a funny poem. It said: "By the favor of Bellone (the goddess of war), and with unmatched luck, we saved Cremona and lost our general."
The battle was also remembered in a march tune. This tune was called 'The Battle of Cremona'. It was later used by the Irish Brigade.
