Siege of Mantua (1799)

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Battle of Mantua
Part of the War of the Second Coalition
Date April-July 1799
Location Mantua, Italy
Result Austrian victory
Belligerents
Flag of France France
Flag of Poland Polish Legions		 Flag of Habsburg Monarchy Austria
Commanders
François-Philippe de Foissac-Latour
Józef Wielhorski		 Pal von Kray
Strength
10,000
657 artillery pieces		 40,000
~150 artillery pieces
Casualties and losses
1700 dead
1400 or more wounded
v • d • e
War of the Second Coalition

Siege of Mantua that lasted from April to July 1799 was the second recent siege of Mantua. The fortress has been taken by the French from the Austrians in 1796-1797. This time, the Austrians were besieging the French (whose forces primarily consisted of the various French allied units of other nationalities).

Contents

[edit] Siege

The fortress of Mantua was in poor shape. It was commanded by viscount lieutenant general François-Philippe de Foissac-Latour (1750-1804)[1] and garrisoned by a a diverse force of 10,000, including a mix of French, Polish (Polish Legionnaires under general Józef Wielhorski), Italian (Republic of Alba and Cisalpine Republic), Swiss and German units.[2] From the beginning of his assignment, general Foissac-Latour, an engineer, was convinced that the fortress is indefeasible against any serious siege.[2]

In April, Austrian forces approach Mantua and started a siege. At first, Austrians were content simply blockading the fortress, but attrition begun taking its toll.[2] The defenders were also weakened due to diminishing food supplies, and their morale was underminded by the lack of payment.[2]

After French defeat at battle of Trebbia on 18 June, the Austrians decided to move against Mantua.[3] On 4 July the siege entered a new stage, with Austrians reinforcements arriving, and Austrian force growing from 8,000 to 40,000.[3] The Austrian force would be commanded by Hungarian general, baron Pal von Kray, an artillery expert.[3] Artillery bombardment was constant. On 24-25 July the Austrian assault begun; the Austrians would be slowly advancing over the next few days.[3] On 27 July Foissac-Latour begun negotiations about a capitulation.[3]

[edit] Capitulation

Austrians agreed to release most of the French garrison, keeping the officers for three months, and with soldiers pledging not to take arms until the prisoners were exchanged by the fighting sides.[3] Austrians however demanded - in a secret protocol - full sovereignty over "deserters from the Austrian army".[3] After protests of the Polish officers - who were afraid that due to recent partitions of Poland in which Austria gained control over parts of Poland - Austrian may want to take custody of the Polish legionnaires - the Austrian negotiator clarified officially that they mean any deserters from the current Austrian army or former Austrian soldiers serving in the Cisalpine Republic Army. [3] On July 30 the French and allied troops left the fortress.[4] The garrison troops were split into French and non-French units (of whom Poles still constituted 1,800); the Austrian soldiers observing the marching non-French garrison troops were given permission to assault some of them that were "recognized" as deserters and most of them were eventually arrested.[4] Polish officers - particularly those from the Austrian partition - were forced to enlist in the Austrian army or deported to partitioned Poland, similar fate befall Polish NCOs and regular soldiers, many of whom in addition were forced to suffer a physical punishment (beaten with rods).[4] This marked the end of the Second Legion of the Polish Legions.[5] Foissac-Latour was later criticized, by the Poles for what they considered "betrayal", but primarily by the French: for the very capitulation, Napoleon himself ordered him stricken from the list of generals and forbade him to wear a miliary uniform.[4]

[edit] Notes

  1. ^ Bibliographie biographique ou dictionnaire de 26000 ouvrages, tant anciens que modernes (1750-1804)
  2. ^ a b c d Obrona Mantui..., p.6-7
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h Obrona Mantui..., p.8-9
  4. ^ a b c d Obrona Mantui..., p.10-11
  5. ^ Otto von Pivka, Michael Roffe, Napoleon's Polish Troops, Osprey Publishing, 1974, ISBN 0850451981, Google Print, p.4

[edit] External links

[edit] References

  • Various authors, Obrona Mantui, Chwała Oręża Polskiego 14 (35), Rzeczpospolita, 23 October 2006 (publication contains a map)