Battle of Casaglia
Encyclopedia
The Battle of Casaglia was a battle in the Neapolitan War
between an Austrian force under the command of Johann Freiherr von Mohr and a Neapolitan force under their king, Joachim Murat
. The battle took place around the village of Casaglia, seven miles northwest of Ferrara
, and resulted in the Austrians recapturing the village from Murat.
, the Neapolitans stopped their advance and made a defensive line on the Po River
. However, even from his new position, Murat was still able to threaten the key Austrian held city of Ferrara
, which had been under attack since 7 April. The commander of the main Austrian force on the north bank of the Po, Johann Frimont
, decided to break out from his bridgehead at Occhiobello
and drive Murat from his position, forcing him to lift the Siege of Ferrara.
Murat had entrenched General Ambrosio's division on his right flank northwest of Ferrara, around the villages of Ravale and Casaglia. The Neapolitan garrison of Ravale was quickly routed on the morning of 12 April. On the same day, an Austrian column under the command of General Mohr, attacked a larger Neapolitan force entrenched in Casaglia. Following severe fighting in the village, the Austrians eventually broke the morale of the defenders and drove the Neapolitans from their positions by the evening. The Neapolitans suffered severe casualties as they retreated. The remainder of the force fell back on the road to Bologna
with a large number deserting Murat's cause altogether. Mirandola
fell the following day to the Austrians without major fighting and Murat was forced to retire from his defensive position, finally pulling his troops back from Ferrara.
Neapolitan War
The Neapolitan War was a conflict between the Napoleonic Kingdom of Naples and the Austrian Empire. It started on 15 March 1815 when Joachim Murat declared war on Austria and ended on 20 May 1815 with the signing of the Treaty of Casalanza...
between an Austrian force under the command of Johann Freiherr von Mohr and a Neapolitan force under their king, Joachim Murat
Joachim Murat
Joachim-Napoléon Murat , Marshal of France and Grand Admiral or Admiral of France, 1st Prince Murat, was Grand Duke of Berg from 1806 to 1808 and then King of Naples from 1808 to 1815...
. The battle took place around the village of Casaglia, seven miles northwest of Ferrara
Ferrara
Ferrara is a city and comune in Emilia-Romagna, northern Italy, capital city of the Province of Ferrara. It is situated 50 km north-northeast of Bologna, on the Po di Volano, a branch channel of the main stream of the Po River, located 5 km north...
, and resulted in the Austrians recapturing the village from Murat.
Battle
After Murat was defeated at the Battle of OcchiobelloBattle of Occhiobello
The Battle of Occhiobello was fought on 8 April – 9 April 1815 and was the turning point of the Neapolitan War. Joachim Murat, King of Naples was repulsed by an Austrian force under the command of Johann Frimont whilst trying to cross the bridge over the Po River at Occhiobello...
, the Neapolitans stopped their advance and made a defensive line on the Po River
Po River
The Po |Ligurian]]: Bodincus or Bodencus) is a river that flows either or – considering the length of the Maira, a right bank tributary – eastward across northern Italy, from a spring seeping from a stony hillside at Pian del Re, a flat place at the head of the Val Po under the northwest face...
. However, even from his new position, Murat was still able to threaten the key Austrian held city of Ferrara
Ferrara
Ferrara is a city and comune in Emilia-Romagna, northern Italy, capital city of the Province of Ferrara. It is situated 50 km north-northeast of Bologna, on the Po di Volano, a branch channel of the main stream of the Po River, located 5 km north...
, which had been under attack since 7 April. The commander of the main Austrian force on the north bank of the Po, Johann Frimont
Johann Maria Philipp Frimont
Johann Maria Philipp Frimont, Count of Palota, Prince of Antrodoco was an Austrian general.Frimont was born at Fénétrange, in what is now French Lorraine...
, decided to break out from his bridgehead at Occhiobello
Occhiobello
Occhiobello is a comune in the Province of Rovigo in the Italian region Veneto, located about 80 km southwest of Venice and about 25 km southwest of Rovigo.-External links:*...
and drive Murat from his position, forcing him to lift the Siege of Ferrara.
Murat had entrenched General Ambrosio's division on his right flank northwest of Ferrara, around the villages of Ravale and Casaglia. The Neapolitan garrison of Ravale was quickly routed on the morning of 12 April. On the same day, an Austrian column under the command of General Mohr, attacked a larger Neapolitan force entrenched in Casaglia. Following severe fighting in the village, the Austrians eventually broke the morale of the defenders and drove the Neapolitans from their positions by the evening. The Neapolitans suffered severe casualties as they retreated. The remainder of the force fell back on the road to Bologna
Bologna
Bologna is the capital city of Emilia-Romagna, in the Po Valley of Northern Italy. The city lies between the Po River and the Apennine Mountains, more specifically, between the Reno River and the Savena River. Bologna is a lively and cosmopolitan Italian college city, with spectacular history,...
with a large number deserting Murat's cause altogether. Mirandola
Mirandola
Mirandola is a city and comune of Emilia-Romagna, Italy, in the Province of Modena, 31 km northeast of the provincial capital by railway.- History :Mirandola originated as a Renaissance city-fortress...
fell the following day to the Austrians without major fighting and Murat was forced to retire from his defensive position, finally pulling his troops back from Ferrara.