Battle of Hollabrunn (1809) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Battle of Hollabrunn
Part of the War of the Fifth Coalition
Date 9 July 1809 Location Hollabrunn, present-day Austria, then Austrian Empire 48°34′N 16°6′E / 48.567°N 16.100°E / 48.567; 16.100 Result Austrian victory
Belligerents
French Empire	Austrian Empire
Commanders and leaders
André Masséna	Johann von Klenau
Strength
11,000	17,000
Casualties and losses
over 320	1,200

The Battle of Hollabrunn was a small but important fight during the War of the Fifth Coalition in 1809. It happened on July 9, 1809. This battle was a rearguard action, which means one army fought to protect the main army as it retreated.

In this battle, the Austrian army, led by General Johann von Klenau, fought against parts of the French army. The French forces were under the command of Marshal André Masséna. Even though the Austrians won this particular fight, it helped the French leader, Napoleon I, understand where the Austrian army was going.

What Happened at Hollabrunn?

The Retreat After Wagram

The French army had just won a big battle called the Battle of Wagram on July 6. This forced the main Austrian army, led by Archduke Charles of Austria-Teschen, to retreat. The Austrians did a good job of retreating in an organized way.

At first, the French, led by Napoleon I, weren't sure which way the Austrians were going. They thought the Austrians might be heading towards different cities like Brünn or Znaim.

French Search for the Austrians

Marshal Masséna sent out scouts to find the Austrian army. These scouts helped him figure out that the Austrians were not going towards Krems or Horn. It took a few days for the French to gather enough information.

By July 8, Napoleon started to get a clearer picture. This was thanks to reports from General Auguste de Marmont and smaller fights. These fights, at Korneuburg and Stockerau, showed Masséna that a large Austrian force was indeed retreating towards Bohemia.

The Battle Begins

The Austrian commander, General Klenau, had about 18,000 soldiers and 64 cannons. His job was to slow down the French army. On July 9, Klenau decided to make a stand near Hollabrunn, which is about 55 kilometers northwest of Vienna.

By this time, Klenau's force had about 17,000 men and was in a strong defensive spot. On the other side, Marshal Masséna had fewer soldiers right away. He only had General Claude Legrand's division, some cavalry (horse soldiers) under General Jacob François Marulaz, and heavy cavalry called cuirassiers.

The Fight and French Reconnaissance

Masséna quickly attacked Klenau's position. At the same time, he carefully looked at the battlefield. This helped him confirm to Napoleon that no Austrian troops were heading towards Krems.

Masséna's first attacks were successful. But Klenau's Austrians fought back hard and pushed the French away. They then defended their position strongly against any more attacks. Masséna realized he was outnumbered. He had to stop fighting and wait for his other infantry divisions to arrive. He knew one division was close, but two others were too far away to help.

What Happened Next?

The exact number of soldiers lost in the Battle of Hollabrunn is not known. Even though the Austrians won this small battle, it was very helpful for the French. It allowed Masséna to tell Napoleon that they were on the right path. He reported that the main Austrian army was retreating along the Thaya river near Laa an der Thaya.

General Johann von Klenau later received a special award, the Military Order of Maria Theresa, for his brave actions. This was for his role in the Battle of Wagram and for skillfully protecting the retreating army.

Meanwhile, Archduke Charles of Austria-Teschen gathered a large force at Jetzelsdorf. But he later left this spot when he learned that a French force was coming towards Znaim from the east. The next big fight would be the Battle of Znaim, where the Austrians eventually asked for a ceasefire, called an armistice.