When was the Second Battle of Saorgio fought?
The Second Battle of Saorgio was fought from the 24th to the 28th of April 1794. It took place in the Maritime Alps during the War of the First Coalition, part of the French Revolutionary Wars.
Questions about Second Battle of Saorgio
Short answers, pulled from the story.
What role did Napoleon Bonaparte play at the Second Battle of Saorgio?
Napoleon Bonaparte, then a newly promoted General of Brigade serving as the Army of Italy's artillery chief, drew up the strategic plan for the offensive that led to the battle. He was not the field commander; tactical control was exercised by General of Division Andre Massena.
Who commanded the French and Coalition forces at the Second Battle of Saorgio?
The French Army of Italy was officially commanded by General of Division Pierre Jadart Dumerbion, with Andre Massena exercising tactical control in the field. The Austro-Piedmontese forces were under the overall command of Feldzeugmeister Joseph Nikolaus De Vins, with Michelangelo Alessandro Colli-Marchi commanding at Saorge.
What was the strategic goal of the French offensive at Saorgio in 1794?
The French objective was to capture strategic positions in the Maritime Alps and Ligurian Alps and along the Mediterranean coast. Bonaparte's plan called for seizing the port of Oneglia first, then turning north to outflank the Coalition's mountain defenses before the main army drove directly on Saorge and the Col de Tende pass.
What were the casualties at the Second Battle of Saorgio?
Historian Digby Smith recorded French losses in the fighting near Saorge as 1,500 killed and wounded. Allied casualties numbered approximately 2,800. Losses from the other engagements in the broader offensive were not separately recorded.
What happened after the French captured Saorgio in April 1794?
After the fall of Saorgio on the 28th of April 1794, Colli withdrew north past the Col de Tende and eventually retreated to Borgo San Dalmazzo near the fortress of Cuneo. The defeat prompted the Austrians and Sardinians to sign a mutual defense treaty on the 29th of May 1794. A proposed French follow-up offensive was vetoed by Lazare Carnot in Paris.