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Curated playlist

Italian campaign (1796–1797)

  • Battle of Caldiero (1796)A hailstorm helped stop Napoleon at the Battle of Caldiero in 1796.
  • Battle of RoveretoThe Battle of Rovereto, fought on the 4th of September 1796, is remembered partly for a dinner. Austrian troops at Calliano were cooking a meal when French soldiers burst into their camp. The battle, also spelled Roveredo, set Napoleon…
  • Montenotte campaignNapoleon planned an attack for April 15, 1796, but the Austrians struck first. His ragged army still won.
  • Battle of BassanoThe Battle of Bassano, fought on the 8th of September 1796 in the territory of the Republic of Venice, was the last battle of Napoleon Bonaparte's perfect military career. Two months later he would lose the Second Battle of Bassano, and…
  • Battle of BorghettoAustrian hussars nearly captured Napoleon Bonaparte at Valeggio in 1796. He then formed a personal cavalry bodyguard.
  • Second Battle of BassanoAt Bassano in 1796, Napoleon suffered his first clear tactical defeat. He still reported a victory that day.
  • Battle of CastiglioneNapoleon lifted his own siege of Mantua to beat four Austrian columns. The Battle of Castiglione came on August 5, 1796.
  • Battle of Tarvis (1797)The Battle of Tarvis in March 1797 left thousands of Austrian soldiers captive in mountain passes.
  • Battle of FombioA French general at the Battle of Fombio may have died by friendly fire. Laharpe fell in a chaotic night fight.
  • Siege of Mantua (1796–1797)The siege of Mantua, a fortress ringed by lakes and marshes, lasted eight months.
  • Battle of RivoliJust 26 horsemen captured a whole Austrian battalion at the Battle of Rivoli. They also seized five enemy flags.
  • Battle of LonatoAt Lonato in 1796, Napoleon bluffed a larger Austrian force into surrendering. He set an eight-minute deadline.
  • Battle of LodiFrench carabiniers stormed a wooden bridge at the Battle of Lodi in 1796.
  • Italian campaign of 1796–1797Napoleon's Italian campaign began with a French army in mutiny. Within eighteen months it forced Austria to make peace.
  • Battle of ArcoleNapoleon Bonaparte grabbed a flag and charged a defended bridge at Arcole. His aide was shot dead beside him in 1796.
  • Fall of the Republic of VeniceVenice's leaders voted their own republic out of existence in May 1797. Crowds in the square begged it to survive.

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