Battle of Marsaglia
Encyclopedia
The Battle of Marsaglia was a battle in the Nine Years' War, fought in Italy on 4 October 1693 between the French army of Marshal Nicolas Catinat
and the Allied army of Duke Victor Amadeus II of Savoy .
Catinat, advancing from Fenestrelle and Susa
to the relief Pinerolo
, defended by the count of Tessé
and which the duke of Savoy was besieging, took up a position in formal order of battle north of the village of Marsaglia, near Orbassano
.
Here on 4 October the duke of Savoy attacked him with his whole army, front to front. But the greatly superior regimental efficiency of the French, and Catinat's minute attention to details in arraying them, gave the new marshal a victory that was a not unworthy pendant to Neerwinden.
The Piedmontese and their allies lost c. 10,000 killed, wounded and prisoners, as against Catinat's 1,800.
Marsaglia is, if not the first, at any rate, one of the first, instances of a bayonet
charge by a long deployed line of infantry. Hussars figured here for the first time in western Europe. A regiment of them had been raised in 1692 from deserters from the Austrian service.
Nicolas Catinat
Nicolas Catinat was a French military commander and Marshal of France under Louis XIV. The son of a magistrate, Catinat was born in Paris on 1 September 1637...
and the Allied army of Duke Victor Amadeus II of Savoy .
Catinat, advancing from Fenestrelle and Susa
Susa, Italy
Susa is a city and comune in Piedmont, Italy. It is situated on at the confluence of the Cenischia with the Dora Riparia, a tributary of the Po River, at the foot of the Cottian Alps, 51 km west of Turin.-History:...
to the relief Pinerolo
Pinerolo
Pinerolo is a town and comune in north-western Italy, 40 kilometres southwest of Turin on the river Chisone.-History:In the Middle Ages, the town of Pinerolo was one of the main crossroads in Italy, and was therefore one of the principal fortresses of the dukes of Savoy. Its military importance...
, defended by the count of Tessé
René de Froulay de Tessé
René de Froulay, comte de Tessé was a French Marshal and diplomat.- Military career :Tessé was born at Le Mans...
and which the duke of Savoy was besieging, took up a position in formal order of battle north of the village of Marsaglia, near Orbassano
Orbassano
Orbassano is a comune in the Province of Turin in the Italian region Piedmont, located about 15 km southwest of Turin. As of 31 December 2004, it had a population of 21,667 and an area of 22.1 km²....
.
Here on 4 October the duke of Savoy attacked him with his whole army, front to front. But the greatly superior regimental efficiency of the French, and Catinat's minute attention to details in arraying them, gave the new marshal a victory that was a not unworthy pendant to Neerwinden.
The Piedmontese and their allies lost c. 10,000 killed, wounded and prisoners, as against Catinat's 1,800.
Marsaglia is, if not the first, at any rate, one of the first, instances of a bayonet
Bayonet
A bayonet is a knife, dagger, sword, or spike-shaped weapon designed to fit in, on, over or underneath the muzzle of a rifle, musket or similar weapon, effectively turning the gun into a spear...
charge by a long deployed line of infantry. Hussars figured here for the first time in western Europe. A regiment of them had been raised in 1692 from deserters from the Austrian service.