When did the Battle of Landshut in 1809 take place?
The main Battle of Landshut took place on the 21st of April 1809. It was preceded by a smaller first engagement at the same town on the 16th of April 1809, five days earlier.
Questions about Battle of Landshut (1809)
Short answers, pulled from the story.
Who commanded the Austrian forces at the Battle of Landshut 1809?
General Johann von Hiller commanded the Austrian left wing of roughly 40,000 men at the 21st of April battle. The vanguard in the earlier the 16th of April skirmish was led by Joseph Radetzky, from Archduke Louis's V Corps.
What happened to the bridge at Landshut during the 1809 battle?
The Austrians tried to set fire to the southern bridge over the Isar to stop the French advance, but days of prior rainfall meant the fire only partially caught. The French, under General Georges Mouton, assaulted the smoldering bridge without firing their muskets and broke down the closed gateway, securing the crossing.
Who was General Georges Mouton and what was his role at Landshut?
Georges Mouton, later known as the comte de Lobau, was Napoleon's aide-de-camp who commanded the grenadiers of the 17th Line during the bridge assault. Napoleon ordered Mouton to lead the attack across the smoldering southern bridge under heavy Austrian fire.
What were the Austrian losses at the Battle of Landshut 1809?
Austrian casualties totaled around 10,000 men. The force also lost 30 cannons, many caissons, an entire pontoon train, and thousands of supply wagons, most of which the French ransacked during the afternoon following the battle.
Why did Hiller choose to defend Landshut in April 1809?
Hiller decided to defend Landshut in order to buy time for his baggage train to withdraw. He positioned cavalry outposts north of the town and deployed his main force inside Landshut and on higher ground to the south, holding the two Isar river bridges as long as possible.