Battle of Abensberg

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Battle of Abensberg

Date	20 April 1809
Location	Abensberg, Bavaria
Result	French victory

Combatants

First French Empire,
Kingdom of Bavaria,
Duchy of Württemberg

Austrian Empire

Commanders

Napoleon I of France

Archduke Charles of Austria

Strength

90,000

80,000

Casualties

2,000 dead and wounded

2,800 dead and wounded, 4,000 prisoners

War of the Fifth Coalition
Sacile – Teugen-Hausen – Raszyn – Abensberg – Landshut – Piave River – Eckmühl – Regensburg – Ebersberg – Aspern-Essling – Raab – Wagram – Walcheren

The Battle of Abensberg took place on April 20, 1809, between the French, Württembergers (VIII Corps) and Bavarians (VII Corps) under Napoleon which numbered about 90,000 strong, and 80,000 Austrians under the Archduke Charles of Austria. On the French left, Marshal Lannes' corps drove back the Austrians after a feeble resistance. In the centre the Bavarians were hard pressed, but eventually Napoleon succeeded in turning the Austrian flank, exposed by the defeat of their right, and Charles was forced to retreat. The Austrians lost 7,000, the French, Württembergers and Bavarians about 3,000 killed and wounded. Desperately trying to wrest the initiative back from Archduke Charles in the opening phases of the 1809 campaign, Napoleon Bonaparte consolidated his forces, left in a confused state by the former commander, and went on the offensive at Abensberg. Despite being outnumbered, Bonaparte's 113,000 troops split the 160,000 strung-out Austrians into two forces. Charles was forced to retreat east to Eckmuhl and General Hiller moved south-east to Landshut. Both then had to fight a second major battle each. Austria suffered 2800 casualties at Abensberg, with a further 4000 men captured.