Second Battle of Marengo (1799) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Second Battle of Marengo (1799) |
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| Belligerents | |||||||
 France |
 Austria |
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| Commanders and leaders | |||||||
| Jean Victor Moreau |
Heinrich Bellegarde |
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| Strength | |||||||
| 14,000 |
8,000 |
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| Casualties and losses | |||||||
| 900–1,000 | 2,300–3,000, 3 guns | ||||||
The Second Battle of Marengo happened on June 20, 1799. It was also called the Battle of Cascina Grossa. This battle was a fight between soldiers from France and Austria. The French troops were led by a general named Jean Victor Marie Moreau. The Austrian soldiers were led by Heinrich von Bellegarde.
At first, the fight was very close. Neither side seemed to be winning. But later in the day, General Moreau sent more French soldiers into the battle. These new troops helped the French win. The Austrians had to leave the battlefield. This important battle took place near a town called Spinetta Marengo in Italy. It was part of a bigger conflict known as the War of the Second Coalition.
Why This Battle Happened
General Moreau's French army was supposed to work with another French army. This other army, led by Jacques MacDonald, was fighting nearby. Their goal was to team up against the Austrian and Russian armies.
The Austrian general, Bellegarde, knew this. He wanted to stop the French armies from joining forces. So, he decided to fight Moreau's army. He hoped to keep Moreau busy and away from MacDonald.
What Happened Next
Even though the French won the Second Battle of Marengo, it didn't help them much. General MacDonald's army had already been defeated that same day. They were starting to retreat.
Because of this, General Moreau soon had to pull his army back. He moved his soldiers into the mountains. This was to avoid being trapped by the enemy armies.
See also
