Battle of Guastalla

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Battle of Guastalla
Part of the War of the Polish Succession
Date September 19, 1734
Location Guastalla, present-day Italy
Result indecisive / Franco-Piedmontese victory
Belligerents
Flag of France France and Piedmont Flag of Austria Austria
Commanders
Charles Emmanuel III of Sardinia, de Broglie and Coigny von Königsegg and Frederick of Württemberg (+)
Strength
49,000 men 40,000 men
Casualties and losses
5,000 dead and wounded 7,000 dead and wounded
v • d • e
War of the Polish Succession
Danzig – Bitonto – San Pietro – Gaeta – Guastalla

The Battle of Guastalla or Battle of Luzzara was a battle fought on September 19, 1734, between Franco-Piedmontese and Austrian troops as part of the War of Polish Succession.

[edit] Prelude

The Franco-Piedmontese allies had marched on Milan in 1733, and occupied Lombardy without significant losses. In June the Austrians had suffered another defeat in the Battle of San Pietro, won by the French under de Coigny and de Broglie, despite attempts by King Charles Emmanuel III of Sardinia to prevent further advance. Charles Emmanuel of Savoy in fact voluntarily thwarted the expedition, because any further gains like Mantua, would be assigned to their new ally Spain, his old neighbor and enemy.

Not much fighting had occurred during summer, but On September 14 von Königsegg had won a small victory near Quistello. He now decided to launch a decisive assault on the allied positions at Guastalla.

[edit] The Battle

Records of this battle are incomplete and contradictory.

On September 19 1734 around 10 am. von Königsegg attacked with 40,000 men the Franco- Piedmontese positions near Guastalla from Luzzara. At first the attack was successful, the allies had to withdraw. This threatened to turn into a rout, but King Charles Emmanuel III of Sardinia intervened with reserves and turned around the fleeing troops.
Then the 49.000 French and Piedmontese pushed the Austrian attack back, but didn't exploit their success.

This enabled the Austrians to stabilize their lines at Luzzara and prevent an allied push on Mantua. The truth was that Charles Emmanuel never intended to conquer Mantua.

The battle ended around 7 pm.
There were a staggering 12.000 casualties, including Prince Frederick Louis of Württemberg-Winnental, who was killed

[edit] External links