Battle of Cassano (1705)

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Battle of Cassano
Part of the War of the Spanish Succession
Date August 16, 1705 Location Cassano d'Adda, Lombardy, Italy Result French victory, strategicly indecisive
Combatants
France	Austria Prussia
Commanders
Louis Joseph, duc de Vendôme	Eugene of Savoy Leopold I, Prince of Anhalt-Dessau
Strength
30,000	29,000
Casualties
unknown	unknown

War of the Spanish Succession
Carpi – Chieri – Cremona – Luzzara – Cádiz – Málaga – Friedlingen – Vigo Bay – Höchstädt - Schellenberg – Blenheim – Cassano – Calcinato – Ramillies – Turin – Almansa – Toulon – Oudenarde – Malplaquet – Saragossa – Almenara – Brihuega – Villaviciosa – Denain – Barcelona

The Battle of Cassano, fought on August 16, 1705, was a hard fought battle in the Italian theatre of the War of the Spanish Succession. Both sides suffered serious casualties, but the French were victorious.

[edit] The Battle

In 1705, Vendome's army and a fresh corps from France were engaged in the attempt to subdue Victor Amadeus and his new Austrian allies and they were so far successful that the duke implored the emperor to send a fresh army. Eugene commanded this army, opposed to which was a force under Vendome's brother Philippe, called the Grand Prior. This man, a lazy amateur, let himself be surprised by Eugene's fierce attack on the line of the Adda. The day was restored however, and the Austrians prevented to cross the river, thanks to Vendome's opportune arrival and dauntless courage.

[edit] Aftermath

Eugene of Savoy was injured during the battle and left Italy for treatment in Austria. Dessau was also wounded and his Prussian contingent was decimated. The Austrian army had finally to retire towards Tyrol for the winter. Still, Eugene's activity had greatly relieved the pressure on Piedmont, enabled Turin to hold out, and kept the half-hearted Duke of Savoy true to his new alliance. Indeed, the French put off the subjugation of Piedmont until next year, by Louis's orders.

Therefore, there was no direct result from this battle. Despite the great loss of life, the battle is all but forgoten. In total 4,000 men were killed, and at least 6,000 were wounded, and an unknown number of soldiers drowned in the river.

I morti delle tre bocche (Italian)