Battle of Rovereto
On the 26th of August, orders arrived from Emperor Francis II to immediately attempt a second relief of the fortress of Mantua. Feldmarschall-Leutnant Franz von Lauer drew up plans for an offensive that would see two divisions march east and south down the Brenta River valley. Dagobert von Würmser planned to join forces with Johann Mészáros near Bassano del Grappa before turning southwest toward Mantua via Legnago. Meanwhile, Paul Davidovich commanded 19,600 troops in Trento to threaten a descent from the north. The Austrian chief-of-staff believed the French army had suffered badly during recent combats and had not properly recovered. He confidently predicted the French army would remain quiet long enough for the Austrian relief effort to get well underway. In reality, the French government approved a strategy sending the Army of Italy north across the Brenner Pass to link with Jean Moreau's army in Bavaria. Napoleon Bonaparte planned to mass 33,000 soldiers from three divisions to advance on Trento while leaving 13,500 men to cover the blockade of Mantua.
At dawn on the 4th of September, Masséna's division attacked Vukassovich's Austrians at Marco. General of Brigade Claude Perrin Victor led one demi-brigade straight up the main road while Jean Joseph Magdeleine Pijon seized high ground to one flank. After sturdy resistance, the Austrians pulled back to avoid being cut off. When Masséna reached Rovereto, Vukassovich stood firm again until noon-time before falling back toward Calliano. Vaubois had captured Mori on the west bank by this time. Davidovich placed Colonel Karl Weidenfeld and the Preiss Infantry Regiment 24 in a formidable position in the Adige gorge to cover the retreat. The regiment's morale was poor after suffering casualties and being hustled out of several defensive lines. Aided by artillery fire directed by Elzéar Auguste Cousin de Dommartin, Masséna's troops attacked in heavy columns and broke through. Without warning, the French interrupted the proceedings by storming into the camp in the late afternoon when Austrian troops were cooking dinner in Calliano. The result was a rout of the surviving Austrians who retreated well to the north.
The French lost 750 casualties during the day while Austrian losses ranged between 3,000 and 10,000 killed, wounded, and prisoners. Austrian forces also surrendered 25 cannon and 7 colours captured by the victors. During the night, Davidovich evacuated Trento and fell back to Lavis, a village at the river Avisio and southern frontier of Austrian territory. He joined Heinrich XV of Reuss-Plauen there where his brigade held positions west of the Adige. Masséna entered Trento on the morning of the 5th of September followed by Vaubois. This success allowed Bonaparte to follow Würmser down the Brenta valley to Bassano and ultimately trap him inside the walls of Mantua. The disparity in losses demonstrated the effectiveness of Napoleon's counter-maneuver against the Austrian relief strategy. The evacuation of Trento removed the northern threat that had been intended to distract French forces from the main Austrian advance.
Bonaparte discarded the strategy of joining Moreau after finding out Würmser's plan of marching east into the Brenta valley. He ordered Vaubois to block the gorges north of Trent with 10,000 men while the remaining 22,000 troops set off in full pursuit of Würmser. This was an extremely risky course to pursue for during the operation the Army of Italy would be wholly dependent on what supplies it could seize locally. Even a temporary check on the Brenta might lead to starvation in the midst of the Alps. On the 5th of September, Vaubois crossed the bridge of the river Avisio and attacked Davidovich at Lavis driving him farther north. Satisfied that Davidovich was no longer a threat, Bonaparte sent Augereau's division to Levico Terme on the trail of Würmser. Soon Masséna's troops followed in Augereau's wake setting the stage for subsequent skirmish at Primolano on the 7th of September and the Battle of Bassano on the 8th of September.
The battle secured the Siege of Mantua by eliminating the northern Austrian corps under Paul Davidovich. Napoleon's decision to abandon his original plan to link with Jean Moreau demonstrated his willingness to take extreme risks for strategic advantage. The victory established his reputation as a military commander capable of outmaneuvering larger forces through rapid movement and decisive action. The disparity between French casualties of 750 and Austrian losses exceeding 3,000 highlighted the tactical superiority achieved through coordinated divisional attacks. This engagement became part of the second relief attempt of Mantua during the War of the First Coalition. The outcome forced Dagobert von Würmser to march south-west from Bassano toward Mantua where he would eventually be trapped inside the fortress walls.
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Common questions
What happened during the Battle of Rovereto on the 4th of September 1796?
The French Army of Italy under Napoleon Bonaparte defeated Austrian forces led by Paul Davidovich and Feldmarschall-Leutnant Franz von Lauer. Masséna's division attacked Vukassovich's Austrians at Marco and later stormed their camp in Calliano to rout them.
How many casualties did each side suffer in the Battle of Rovereto?
French losses totaled 750 men while Austrian casualties ranged between 3,000 and 10,000 killed wounded and prisoners. The victors also captured 25 cannon and 7 colours from the defeated Austrian army.
Who commanded the Austrian forces at the Battle of Rovereto?
Paul Davidovich commanded 19,600 troops in Trento to threaten a descent from the north while Feldmarschall-Leutnant Franz von Lauer planned an offensive down the Brenta River valley. Dagobert von Würmser intended to join forces with Johann Mészáros near Bassano del Grappa before turning southwest toward Mantua.
When did Napoleon Bonaparte enter Trento after the battle?
Masséna entered Trento on the morning of the 5th of September followed by Vaubois. This occurred after Davidovich evacuated Trento during the night and fell back to Lavis.
Why did Napoleon abandon his plan to link with Jean Moreau's army?
Napoleon discarded the strategy of joining Moreau after finding out that Dagobert von Würmser planned to march east into the Brenta valley. He ordered Vaubois to block the gorges north of Trent with 10,000 men while pursuing Würmser instead.