Battle of Messkirch facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Battle of Messkirch (1800)
Part of War of the Second Coalition
Battle of Meßkirch
Date 4 May 1800 and 5 May 1800 Location Meßkirch, present-day Germany 47°59′34″N 9°6′45″E / 47.99278°N 9.11250°E / 47.99278; 9.11250 Result French victory
Belligerents
France	Austria
Commanders and leaders
Jean Victor Marie Moreau Laurent de Gouvion Saint-Cyr	Unknown
Strength
52,000	48,000
Casualties and losses
3,000 killed or wounded	2,400 killed or wounded 1,600 captured

The Battle of Meßkirch was a big fight that happened on May 4 and 5, 1800. It was part of a larger conflict called the War of the Second Coalition. In this battle, the French army fought against the Austrian army near a town called Meßkirch in what is now Germany. The French army won this important battle.

What Happened at Meßkirch?

Armies on the Move

In April 1800, the French army, led by General Jean Moreau, crossed the Rhine River. This was a major move to start their attack. A part of the French army, led by General Laurent de Gouvion Saint-Cyr, moved into the Black Forest area.

They captured a town called Stuhlingen. After this, they fought in another battle nearby on May 3, 1800. The Austrians lost that battle and had to retreat. They moved back to Meßkirch because it was a better place to defend.

The Fight for Meßkirch

The French army attacked Meßkirch on both May 4 and May 5, 1800. The Austrians had a strong defensive position, so the French attacks were not successful at first.

However, a French group managed to capture an area called Krumbach and the hills around it. These hills overlooked Meßkirch, giving the French a big advantage. Because of this, the Austrian army had to move back again. They retreated to Sigmaringen. The French army followed them, and another battle happened a few days later.

See also

• Campaigns of 1800 in the French Revolutionary Wars