Battle of Aspern-Essling

E35794

The Battle of Aspern-Essling was a major 1809 clash near Vienna in which Austrian forces under Archduke Charles halted Napoleon’s previously unstoppable advance, marking his first significant defeat in a pitched battle.

Aliases (1)

Statements (48)
Predicate Object
instanceOf Napoleonic Wars battle
battle
alsoKnownAs Battle of Aspern
Battle of Essling
AustrianCasualties tens of thousands killed wounded or missing
AustrianCommander Archduke Charles of Austria
Johann von Hiller
AustrianObjective destroy the French bridgehead and push them back over the Danube
AustrianStrength about 90,000–100,000 soldiers
belligerent Austrian Empire
First French Empire
causeOfDeathOf Jean Lannes
commander Archduke Charles of Austria
Napoleon I of France
conflictIn War of the Fifth Coalition
consequence French forced to withdraw to Lobau Island
boosted Austrian morale
damaged the aura of Napoleon’s invincibility
continent Europe
country Austrian Empire
date 21 May 1809
endDate 22 May 1809
feature destruction of French pontoon bridges by the Danube’s current and debris
repeated Austrian attacks on the villages of Aspern and Essling
followedBy Battle of Wagram
FrenchCasualties tens of thousands killed wounded or missing
FrenchCommander André Masséna
Jean Lannes
Napoleon I of France
FrenchObjective secure a bridgehead across the Danube
FrenchStrength about 70,000–80,000 soldiers
location Aspern
Essling
Lobau Island NERFINISHED
near Vienna
notableDeath Marshal Jean Lannes
opponent Austrian Empire
First French Empire
partOf Napoleonic Wars
precededBy French crossing of the Danube at Lobau
result Austrian victory
river Danube
significance first major defeat of Napoleon in a pitched battle
halted Napoleon’s advance on Vienna temporarily
strategicOutcome temporary strategic setback for Napoleon
tacticalOutcome Austrian tactical success
theatre Danube campaign of 1809
year 1809


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