Combat of Korneuburg facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Combat of Korneuburg |
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| Part of the War of the Fifth Coalition | |||||||
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| Belligerents | |||||||
 French Empire |
 Austrian Empire |
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| Commanders and leaders | |||||||
| Claude Legrand |
Johann von Klenau |
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| Strength | |||||||
| 13,000 24 cannons |
18,000 64 cannons |
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| Casualties and losses | |||||||
| 350 | 400 | ||||||
The Combat of Korneuburg was a small battle during the War of the Fifth Coalition. It happened on July 7, 1809, near Korneuburg in what is now Austria. This fight was between the Austrian army and the French army.
The Austrians were led by Johann von Klenau. The French forces were under the command of Claude Legrand. This short battle ended with a victory for the French.
Why the Battle Happened
This battle took place right after a much bigger one called the Battle of Wagram. The French had won at Wagram. Because of this, the main Austrian army, led by Archduke Charles of Austria-Teschen, started to retreat. They were moving towards a region called Bohemia.
Archduke Charles needed to slow down the French. He ordered General Klenau to stay behind and delay the French pursuit. Klenau had about 18,000 soldiers and 64 cannons. The French army chasing them was led by André Masséna. Masséna sent a special group, called a vanguard, ahead. This vanguard was commanded by General Legrand.
Legrand's group had about 13,000 soldiers and 24 cannons. It included his own division, cavalry (soldiers on horseback) led by General Jacob François Marulaz, and heavy cavalry called cuirassiers.
The Battle Itself
The two armies met on July 7, 1809. The fighting happened near Korneuburg, which is about 19 kilometers (12 miles) northwest of Vienna. The battle was quite short.
After some fighting, the French managed to break through the Austrian lines. General Klenau and his Austrian troops then quickly retreated. The French army had about 350 soldiers who were either killed or wounded. The exact number of Austrian losses isn't known, but they did lose 300 soldiers who were taken as prisoners of war.
