Siege of Hüningen (1796–1797) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Siege of Hüningen
Part of the War of the First Coalition in the French Revolutionary Wars
Vauban fortress at Hünigingen
Date 27 November 1796 – 1 February 1797 Location Hüningen, (Huningue) Alsace, France Result Austrian victory
Belligerents
Republican France	Habsburg Austria
Commanders and leaders
Georges Joseph Dufour Jean Charles Abbatucci   †	Karl Aloys zu Fürstenberg
Strength
4,000	10,000
Casualties and losses
1,200	not known; light
Digby Smith. "Siege of Huningen." Napoleonic Wars Data Book. Merchanicsburg, PA: Stackpole, 1998, p. 132.

The Siege of Hüningen was a battle that took place from November 27, 1796, to February 1, 1797. During this time, Austrian forces fought to capture the city of Hüningen from the French. Hüningen is located in France, very close to the borders of Germany and Switzerland. Its strong fortress was important because it controlled a key bridge over the Rhine River.

This siege was part of the French Revolutionary Wars, a series of conflicts where France fought against many European countries. These countries, especially monarchies, were worried about the French Revolution and the safety of the French king, Louis XVI. Fighting had been going on for a few years. In 1796, the Austrian army, led by Archduke Charles, pushed the French army back to the Rhine River.

After a battle called Battle of Schliengen, the French army, led by Jean Victor Moreau, retreated across the Rhine into France. They still held important forts and bridgeheads (strong points at the end of bridges) at Kehl and Hüningen. Moreau wanted a truce, but the Austrian Emperor, Francis II, refused. This meant the Austrians had to lay siege to both Kehl and Hüningen, tying up their army for the winter. Archduke Charles went north to Kehl, and General Karl Aloys zu Fürstenberg was sent to lead the siege at Hüningen.

Fürstenberg's troops started the siege soon after the Battle of Schliengen. They built earthworks and set up cannons to attack the fortress. In early December, the French commander, Jean Charles Abbatucci, was killed during a French attack that failed. His replacement, Georges Joseph Dufour, surrendered on February 1, 1797. This prevented a very costly final attack. The French left Hüningen, taking anything valuable with them, leaving behind a ruined fortress.

Why the Siege Happened

French troops overwhelmed the Swabian militia at Kehl on June 24, 1796.

The French Revolution began in 1789. At first, other European rulers thought it was just a problem between the French king and his people. But as the revolution became more extreme, other countries grew worried. French nobles who had fled France tried to get support from other European royal families to fight against the revolution.

In 1791, the Holy Roman Emperor, Leopold II, became very concerned about his sister, the French Queen Marie Antoinette. He and the King of Prussia issued a statement warning France. On April 20, 1792, France declared war on Austria, starting the War of the First Coalition. This war involved France fighting against many of its neighbors.

The Rhine River's Importance

The Rhine River prevented easy escape into France.

The Rhine River was a very important natural border. It flows along much of the border between what was then Germany and Switzerland. In 1796, the river was wild and wide, with many channels. There were only a few reliable places to cross it, like at Kehl and Hüningen, where bridges and causeways made it possible.

These crossings were very important for armies. If an army controlled the bridges, it could easily move troops and supplies. The fortresses at Hüningen and Kehl were built to protect these vital crossings.

Political Situation in Europe

Europe in 1796 was like a patchwork quilt of many different states, especially in what is now Germany. The Holy Roman Empire had over a thousand small territories. These included free cities, church-controlled lands, and areas ruled by different families. This made the political map very complicated.

The French Directory, which was the government of France at the time, wanted to keep control of the Rhine bridgeheads at Hüningen and Kehl. These were seen as key to defending France. The Austrian commander, Archduke Charles, wanted to make a deal: he would take control of the fortresses, and in return, he could send his troops to help another Austrian army fighting in Italy. However, the Emperor and his advisors refused this deal. They ordered Charles to capture the fortresses by force. This decision kept Charles's army busy at the Rhine for months.

Military Movements in 1796

Moreau's skillful retreats maintained his army intact for withdrawal across the Rhine and defense of the crossings at Kehl and Hüningen.

In early 1796, there was a truce between the French and Austrian armies. When it ended in May, the French planned a big attack. Two French armies would push into Germany, while a third attacked Austria through Italy.

The French army under Jean-Baptiste Jourdan moved first, drawing Austrian attention. This allowed Jean Victor Marie Moreau's army to cross the Rhine more easily at Kehl and Hüningen. Moreau's troops quickly moved into Germany. The Austrians, led by Archduke Charles, began to retreat eastward.

However, the French generals did not work well together. Moreau and Jourdan did not combine their armies, which could have crushed the Austrians. This allowed the Austrians to unite their forces first. Archduke Charles defeated Jourdan's army in several battles. This allowed Charles to move more troops south.

Retreat to Hüningen

The Austrian army then turned its attention to Moreau's army. They met at the Battle of Emmendingen in October. The Austrians attacked Moreau's forces, pushing them back. Moreau found himself in a difficult position. He had to retreat carefully to avoid being trapped.

Moreau decided to retreat towards Basel, planning to cross the Rhine at Hüningen. He used a strong rear guard to protect his army as it moved through the Rhine valley. On October 24, the two armies met again at the Battle of Schliengen. Moreau's army was in a strong defensive position, but the Austrians attacked both sides of his line. The French fought hard but eventually had to pull back.

Moreau knew his army was in danger of being cut off from the bridges at Hüningen, which was his only way back to France. So, that same night, he ordered a retreat. His army moved about 10 miles to Hüningen, and by November 3, they were ready to cross the bridges into France.

The Siege of Hüningen

Archduke Charles and his commanders view the cannonade of Hüningen on February 2, 1797.

While the larger siege at Kehl was happening, General Fürstenberg's troops surrounded Hüningen. They began building earthworks and trenches to prepare for an attack. Fürstenberg offered the French commander, General Abbatucci, a chance to surrender, but Abbatucci refused.

The Austrians then drained the water from the fortress moat. They built more trenches and ramparts. On the night of November 30, Fürstenberg's troops tried to storm the bridgehead twice but were pushed back. By November 20, the Austrians had set up powerful cannons called the Ferdinand batteries. They also built the Charles and Elizabeth batteries closer to the river, which could fire directly into the French defenses.

On November 28, Fürstenberg again asked Abbatucci to surrender, but he refused. A heavy cannon attack began, destroying much of the bridges. On December 2-3, Abbatucci led a French attack to try and capture one of the Austrian batteries. The attack failed, and Abbatucci was badly wounded and died.

The Austrians continued to improve their positions. After the siege at Kehl ended successfully in January, more cannons and thousands of soldiers were sent to Hüningen. The Austrian ring around the fortress grew tighter. The Charles and Elizabeth batteries fired constantly, destroying the bridges connecting the island forts to the mainland. The Ferdinand battery also joined in the shelling. The Austrians extended their trenches all the way to the Swiss border, allowing them to fire on the French from many angles.

On January 25, the Austrians drained their trenches, which had filled with winter rain and snow. On January 31, the French tried to push the Austrians back but failed. Archduke Charles himself arrived that day to check on the siege. The next night was quiet, with only regular artillery fire. On February 1, 1797, as the Austrians prepared for a final assault, the new French commander, General Georges Joseph Dufour, decided to surrender. This saved many lives on both sides. On February 5, Fürstenberg took control of the bridgehead. Like Kehl, Hüningen was left in ruins.

Who Fought at Hüningen

Fürstenberg commanded the Austrian siege.

Here are the main forces involved in the siege:

Austrian Army

• Lieutenant General Prince von Fürstenberg, Commander
• First Brigade, Lieutenant General Michael von Fröhlich
• Major General Paul Vay de Vaya
  • 1st Banat squadron
  • 2nd Banat and Szekler (one squadron each)
  • Hussars Archduke Ferdinand (10 squadrons)
• Major General Kovachich
  • Regiment Archduke Ferdinand (10 squadrons)
  • Regiment Stuart (two battalions)
  • Regiment Pellegrini (two battalions)
  • Regiment Wenckheim (two battalions)
• Major General Wolf
  • Regiment Manfredini (one battalion)
  • Regiment Bender (three battalions)
  • Regiment Wartensleben (one battalion)
• Prince Charles Eugene, Prince of Lambesc
  • Regiment J'Alton Regiment (three battalions)
  • Kavanaugh Cuirassiers (six squadrons)
  • Waldeck Dragoons (six squadrons)
  • Modene Chev légere (six squadrons)
  • Lobkowitz Chev. (six squadrons)
• Total: 19 battalions and 34 squadrons

French Army

• General Abbatucci, Commander (until December 4, 1796)
• Jean Charles Dufour, Commander (after December 4, 1796)
• 3rd infantry Demi brigade de légère (three battalions)
• 56th infantry Demi brigade de ligne (three battalions)
• 89th infantry Demi brigade de ligne (three battalions)
• Total: nine battalions (mixed skirmishers and line infantry)

What Happened After

Monument for Jean Charles Abbatucci, 1906

While the Austrians were busy besieging Hüningen and Kehl, the French commander Moreau was able to send about 12,000 extra troops to Italy. These troops helped the French win the siege of Mantua, a very important victory for them.

At Hüningen, the French lost almost 30% of their soldiers. Most of these losses happened in November and December during their attempts to push back the Austrians. The young and promising French general, Jean Charles Abbatucci, was killed. When the French surrendered, the remaining soldiers were allowed to leave safely. The Austrians had light casualties, but after three months, they took control of a completely destroyed fortress.

For his success, General Fürstenberg was honored by the Emperor. Archduke Charles was also praised for his leadership and was called the "Savior of Germany" for his victories in the campaign.

General Moreau built a monument for Abbatucci in Hüningen, but it was destroyed during the later Napoleonic Wars. The fortress was besieged again in 1813-1814. The monument was rebuilt much later, and the town square in Hüningen is still named after Abbatucci today.

Images for kids

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  The many states of the Holy Roman Empire were especially dense on the east bank of the Rhine.

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  The states involved in late 1796 included, for example, the Breisgau (Habsburg), Offenburg and Rottweil (imperial cities), the princely states of Fürstenberg, Neuenburg, and Hohenzollern, the Duke of Baden, the Duchy of Württemberg, and several dozen church-controlled areas. Many of these territories were not connected.

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  Wet weather and steep terrain in the Black Forest made travel difficult for both armies.