Battle of Landshut (1809)
The first battle of Landshut occurred on the 16th of April 1809. Archduke Louis sent his vanguard under Joseph Radetzky against Bernhard Deroy's Bavarian III Division. Austrian artillery pushed the defenders out of the town and river defensive position. This initial clash left little loss on both sides but set a tense stage for events five days later. Napoleon believed the main Austrian army was retreating to Landshut after their victory at Abensberg. He ordered Lannes to pursue this force immediately. The left wing of the Austrian army numbered 36,000 men under General Johann von Hiller. They withdrew toward Landshut to protect their baggage train.
Landshut sat upon the Isar River with two bridges spanning its width. A small island divided the center of the waterway between these crossing points. Hiller positioned cavalry outposts north of the town while placing his main force within Landshut itself. His troops also occupied higher ground to the south of the settlement. Masséna led a French force of 57,000 men that crossed the Isar upstream at Moosburg early in the morning. This movement threatened to block Hiller from escaping the town entirely. Rainfall over previous days made the terrain muddy and difficult for heavy equipment. The geography forced commanders to fight for control of specific bridge crossings rather than open fields.
Hiller realized he could not hold his position against Masséna's blocking maneuver. French cavalry pushed back Austrian forces into the main part of Landshut. Napoleon ordered his aide General Georges Mouton to assume command of attacking grenadiers from the 17th Line regiment. These soldiers reached the gateway without firing their muskets despite heavy Austrian fire from all sides. They broke down the gate allowing Bavarian troops to reinforce the breach quickly. The fighting continued inside the streets of Landshut as French units entered from the south. An additional bridge immediately west of the town allowed another French column to enter the urban area. The Austrians tried to set fire to the southern bridge but rainfall prevented total destruction.
Napoleon arrived on April 21 to turn a hard-fought stalemate into a clear victory. His decision to order Lannes to pursue the retreating enemy proved decisive for the outcome. Hiller chose to defend Landshut specifically to allow his baggage train time to withdraw safely. Masséna executed a critical upstream crossing at Moosburg that threatened to cut off Austrian escape routes. General Georges Mouton led the grenadiers forward without firing their weapons under intense fire. This bold tactic allowed the French to break through the gateway and secure the bridge. The coordination between Lannes, Masséna, and Napoleon overwhelmed Hiller's defensive preparations within hours.
The Austrian force suffered around 10,000 casualties during the engagement on April 21. They lost 30 cannons along with many caissons and thousands of supply wagons. A pontoon train also fell into French hands as part of the material destruction. Many defenders were captured while Hiller managed to retreat with the bulk of his force toward Neumarkt am Wallersee. Landshut finally fell to the French just after noon on that day. Victorious French forces spent much of the afternoon ransacking these captured supplies. The loss of artillery and transport crippled the ability of the Austrian army to continue fighting effectively.
Hiller retreated with most of his army toward Neumarkt am Wallersee after the battle ended. The main Austrian army faced a new attack at the Battle of Eckmühl shortly thereafter. Napoleon believed this was the main Austrian army when he ordered the pursuit. The victory at Landshut allowed French forces to dominate the region for weeks following the engagement. The War of the Fifth Coalition continued with heavy losses on both sides throughout May 1809. The capture of supplies and artillery significantly weakened the Austrian position in southern Germany. This defeat contributed to the eventual collapse of Archduke Louis's command structure during the campaign.
Common questions
When did the first battle of Landshut occur in 1809?
The first battle of Landshut occurred on the 16th of April 1809. Archduke Louis sent his vanguard under Joseph Radetzky against Bernhard Deroy's Bavarian III Division during this initial clash.
Who commanded the Austrian army at the Battle of Landshut in 1809?
General Johann von Hiller commanded the left wing of the Austrian army which numbered 36,000 men. He positioned cavalry outposts north of the town while placing his main force within Landshut itself to protect their baggage train.
How many French soldiers participated in the Battle of Landshut in 1809?
Masséna led a French force of 57,000 men that crossed the Isar upstream at Moosburg early in the morning. This movement threatened to block Hiller from escaping the town entirely.
What happened to the Austrian artillery and supplies after the Battle of Landshut on April 21 1809?
The Austrian force lost 30 cannons along with many caissons and thousands of supply wagons during the engagement on April 21. A pontoon train also fell into French hands as part of the material destruction.
Where did General Johann von Hiller retreat to after the Battle of Landshut ended?
Hiller retreated with most of his army toward Neumarkt am Wallersee after the battle ended. The main Austrian army faced a new attack at the Battle of Eckmühl shortly thereafter.