Battle of Verona (1799) facts for kids

The Battle of Verona happened on March 26, 1799. It was a fight between the Austrian army, led by Pál Kray, and the French army, led by Barthélemy Louis Joseph Schérer. This battle was part of the War of the Second Coalition, which was a bigger conflict during the French Revolutionary Wars.

The fighting took place near Verona, a city in northern Italy on the Adige River. The battle was actually three separate fights happening on the same day:

• At Verona itself, the French and Austrians fought to a tough draw.
• At Pastrengo, west of Verona, the French army won against the Austrians.
• At Legnago, southeast of Verona, the Austrians defeated the French.

Quick facts for kids Battle of Verona (1799)
Part of the French Revolutionary War
Austrian infantry skirmishing
Date 26 March 1799 Location near Verona, Italy 45°26′19″N 10°59′34″E / 45.43861°N 10.99278°E / 45.43861; 10.99278 Result Draw
Belligerents
France	Austria
Commanders and leaders
Barthélemy Schérer Jean-Mathieu-Philibert Sérurier	Pál Kray
Strength
46,400	41,400
Casualties and losses
5,228 17 guns	7,000–8,000 8 guns

What Happened

At Pastrengo, the French had about 22,400 soldiers. They lost around 1,000 men who were killed, wounded, or went missing. The Austrians had 11,000 soldiers and lost about 2,000 killed or wounded. The French also captured 1,500 Austrian soldiers, 12 cannons, and some bridges.

In the fight at Verona, the French had 14,500 soldiers. They lost about 1,500 killed or wounded, and 300 men with three cannons were captured. The Austrians had 16,400 troops. They lost about 1,600 killed or wounded, and 1,100 were captured. Several Austrian generals were wounded in this part of the battle.

At Legnago, the French had 9,500 men. They lost 2,000 killed or wounded, and 600 men with 14 cannons were captured. A French general, François Felix Vignes, was killed. The Austrians had 14,000 soldiers and lost about 700 killed or wounded, with 100 captured. One of the wounded Austrian generals, Anton Lipthay de Kisfalud, later died from his injuries.

Overall, the Battle of Verona was a draw. Both sides suffered significant losses, but neither achieved a clear victory across all three battle locations.

Sources

• Clausewitz, Carl von (2020). Napoleon Absent, Coalition Ascendant: The 1799 Campaign in Italy and Switzerland, Volume 1. Trans and ed. Nicholas Murray and Christopher Pringle. Lawrence, Kansas: University Press of Kansas. ISBN: 978-0-7006-3025-7