Army of Italy (France)
On the 27th of March 1796, General Napoleon Bonaparte arrived to find a starving force. The Army of Italy suffered from severe supply shortages that left soldiers without uniforms or shoes. Troops sometimes resorted to looting just to survive in the field. Indiscipline ran rampant through the ranks when he took command. Chouan songs were sung by the men while a company called the Dauphin was formed within the unit. This chaotic state existed before any major victories could be won.
Napoleon reestablished discipline immediately upon taking charge of the broken army. He condemned officers who had shouted Vive le roi! during their duties. The general dismissed the 13th regiment of hussards for indiscipline and dissolved an entire regiment after it revolted at the end of March. These purges transformed the force into the most Jacobin of all French armies. Poor supplies improved as war contributions flowed in from conquered lands. Individual failures persisted in memoirs even though official communiques claimed success up until 1797.
A new force known as the armée de Réserve formed at Dijon on the 8th of March 1800. It adopted the title Armée d'Italie on the 23rd of June 1800 when merged with remnants of the original unit. General Masséna served as the first commander of this combined force. Napoleon Bonaparte acted as Commander in person while serving as First Consul. General Berthier held the title of Général en chef from the 2nd of April to the 23rd of June 1800. This structure allowed the army to defeat Austrians at Marengo later that year.
General d'Anselme led the unit from the 7th of November to the 25th of December 1792 without full general prerogatives. Maréchal de camp Brunet served as interim leader between the 26th of December 1792 and the 9th of February 1793. General Biron commanded from the 10th of February until the 4th of May 1793. General Brunet took over again from the 5th of May through the 8th of August 1793 before reporting to Kellermann. Pierre Jardat Dumerbion held command from the 29th of December 1793 to the 21st of November 1794 with Napoleon and Massena as subordinates.
The First Battle of Dego occurred on the 21st of September 1794 and was won thanks to artillery commander Bonaparte. Soldiers fought at Loano on the 24th of November 1795 in an unexploited victory against Benedetto of Savoy. The army participated in the war of the Third Coalition during 1805 under André Masséna. They engaged Austrians at Verona and Caldiero in northern Italy that same year. Eugène de Beauharnais commanded forces during the Fifth Coalition war of 1809 fighting at Sacile, Caldiero, Piave, and Raab.
Common questions
When did Napoleon Bonaparte take command of the Army of Italy?
Napoleon Bonaparte arrived to take command on the 27th of March 1796. He found a starving force suffering from severe supply shortages and rampant indiscipline.
Who commanded the Army of Italy after General Biron in 1793?
General Brunet took over command again from the 5th of May through the 8th of August 1793 before reporting to Kellermann. Pierre Jardat Dumerbion held command from the 29th of December 1793 to the 21st of November 1794 with Napoleon and Massena as subordinates.
What happened to the original Army of Italy unit in 1800?
A new force known as the armée de Réserve formed at Dijon on the 8th of March 1800. It adopted the title Armée d'Italie on the 23rd of June 1800 when merged with remnants of the original unit under General Masséna.
Which battles did the Army of Italy fight during the war of the Third Coalition in 1805?
The army participated in the war of the Third Coalition during 1805 under André Masséna. They engaged Austrians at Verona and Caldiero in northern Italy that same year.
How many regiments were dismissed or dissolved by Napoleon Bonaparte upon taking command?
Napoleon dismissed the 13th regiment of hussards for indiscipline and dissolved an entire regiment after it revolted at the end of March. These purges transformed the force into the most Jacobin of all French armies.