Franz Jellacic
Encyclopedia
Baron Franjo Jelačić Bužimski (English
: Franz Jellacic, also Francis Yellachich of Buzhim or German
: Franz Jellačić von Buzim, also Franz Jellachich de Buzim), born 14 April 1746 – died 4 February 1810, was a Croatian
nobleman, a member of the House of Jelačić
. He began his service in the Habsburg
army as a Grenz infantry
officer and fought against the Ottoman Turks
. During the French Revolutionary Wars
he received promotion to the rank of general officer and won an outstanding victory. His later career proved that his martial abilities were limited. He twice led independent division-sized forces in the Napoleonic Wars
, with unhappy results. He was Proprietor (Inhaber)
of an Austrian infantry regiment from 1802 until his death.
in the Kingdom of Croatia of the Habsburg Monarchy
, Jelačić became an officer cadet in the 1st Banal Grenz Infantry
Regiment in 1763. He was appointed to Captain in 1772 and Major
in 1783. He participated in the Austro-Turkish War (1787-1791)
and earned promotion to Oberstleutnant
(lieutenant colonel). Still serving with the Grenz infantry of the Habsburg Monarchy
army, Jelačić was elevated to the rank of Oberst
(Colonel
) in 1794. He fought in the War of the First Coalition on the upper Rhine River, at the Battle of Würzburg
, and in other actions. His promotion to General-Major
came through in March 1797.
On 23 March 1799 at Feldkirch in the Voralberg
, Jelačić led his 5,500 soldiers to victory over 12,000 Frenchmen commanded by Jean-Joseph, Marquis Dessolles
. The Austrians inflicted 3,000 casualties on their enemies at a cost of 900 killed and wounded. His command included the 3rd battalions of the Kaunitz Infantry Regiment # 20, De Vins Infantry Regiment # 37, and Peterwardeiner Grenz Regiment # 9; the 2nd battalion of the St. George Gernz Infantry # 6, and the 1st battalion of the Broder Grenz Infantry Regiment # 7. For this remarkable feat, he received promotion to Feldmarschall-Leutnant (Lieutenant Field Marshal) and was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Military Order of Maria Theresa
. He was also given the title of hereditary baron
. In 1802 Emperor Francis II appointed him proprietor of Franz Jellačić Infantry Regiment # 62, a new Hungarian outfit. This unit should not be confused with the Johann Jellačić Infantry Regiment # 53. In 1801, his wife Ana Portner von Höflein gave birth to their son Josip Jelačić
, who also became a general and supported the Austrian regime during the Hungarian Revolution of 1848
.
and Karl Mack von Leiberich
during the Ulm Campaign
. At first his troops defended Biberach an der Riss. Around 6 October, Mack ordered Jelačić to move toward Ulm
. At this time, Jelačić commanded 15,000 troops organized in 16 infantry battalions, six jäger
companies, and six cavalry squadrons. Emperor Napoleon I of France
and his Grande Armée began to envelop the Austrian army. During the Battle of Wertingen
on 8 October, the Battle of Günzburg
on 9 October, and the Battle of Haslach-Jungingen
on 11 October, the Grande Armée began to close in on its prey. On the 12th, Mack reorganized his army, making Jelačić one of four corps commanders, the others being Johann Sigismund Riesch
, Franz von Werneck
, and Karl Philipp, Prince of Schwarzenberg
. He then ordered Jelačić to march south toward the Tyrol
via Ochsenhausen
for no explainable reason.
Jelačić's troops escaped the Surrender of Ulm
and made it to the Voralberg near Lake Constance
. Napoleon assigned Marshal
Pierre Augereau and his 12,000-man corps to hunt down Jelačić. In a series of small actions, Augereau drove the Austrians steadily back and managed to split their forces apart. Jelačić surrendered to Augereau with his remaining 4,000 troops at Dornbirn
on 13 November. Under the terms of surrender, the Austrians were repatriated to Bohemia with the promise not to fight against France for one year. One thousand of his cavalry, under General-Major Christian Wolfskeel von Reichenberg and Colonels Wartensleben and Kinsky, made a remarkable march through Bavaria
and reached Bohemia
in safety. Another portion of the Voralberg force under Prince Viktor Rohan tried to reach Venice
but was caught 40 kilometers short of its goal. Rohan surrendered to Laurent Gouvion Saint-Cyr and Jean Reynier
at Castelfranco Veneto
. Jelačić soon retired from military service.
Brought out of retirement for the War of the Fifth Coalition
, Jelačić took command of an infantry division in Johann von Hiller
's VI Armeekorps. Originally, the division included two line infantry brigades under Konstantin von Ettingshausen and Josef Hoffmeister von Hoffeneck. On the outbreak of war, Hoffmeister's brigade was exchanged for the light brigade of Karl Dollmayer von Provenchères. The division was detached from VI Armeekorps and sent to occupy Munich
. After the Austrian defeats at the battles of Abensberg
, Landshut
, and Eckmuhl
from 20 to 22 April 1809, Hiller retreated rapidly east and Jelačić was ordered back to Salzburg
.
Jelačić's 10,000-man division was assigned to the army of Archduke John of Austria. On 29 April the Bavarians occupied Salzburg as Jelačić slipped away to the south. He successfully defended the Lueg Pass near Golling an der Salzach
on 1 and 4–5 May, twice defeating a Bavarian brigade. He sent Provenchères and almost all of his cavalry to join the main army. John desired Jelačić to join him, but his orders were ambiguously worded. Misinterpreting his orders as requiring him to hold his isolated position, he stayed in place until 19 May. When Jelačić finally realized his danger and withdrew toward Graz
, it was too late. Believing his artillery to be of little use in the mountains, he sent most of it ahead of his column, retaining only four cannons. On 25 May, Paul Grenier
's 12,000 to 15,000 strong Franco-Italian corps caught up with his division at the Battle of Sankt Michael
near Leoben
on 25 May. Without sufficient artillery and cavalry support, Jelačić's 9,000 troops were overwhelmed, suffering 423 dead, 1,137 wounded, and 4,963 captured. French losses numbered only 670. Historian Gunther E. Rothenberg
called Jelačić "a remarkably unlucky and inept general."
Jelačić and his survivors joined Archduke John's retreat across Hungary
. At the Battle of Raab
, he commanded 7,500 infantry of the right flank division. With help from the army reserve, his soldiers drove off the first Franco-Italian attack, but the action ended in an Austrian defeat. He commanded his division at the Battle of Wagram
but John's army arrived too late on the field to have any effect on the outcome. He died on 4 February 1810 at Zalaapáti
in modern-day Hungary.
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
: Franz Jellacic, also Francis Yellachich of Buzhim or German
German language
German is a West Germanic language, related to and classified alongside English and Dutch. With an estimated 90 – 98 million native speakers, German is one of the world's major languages and is the most widely-spoken first language in the European Union....
: Franz Jellačić von Buzim, also Franz Jellachich de Buzim), born 14 April 1746 – died 4 February 1810, was a Croatian
Kingdom of Croatia (Habsburg)
The Kingdom of Croatia was an administrative division that existed between 1527 and 1868 within the Habsburg Monarchy . The Kingdom was a part of the Lands of the Crown of St. Stephen, but was subject to direct Imperial Austrian rule for significant periods of time, including its final years...
nobleman, a member of the House of Jelačić
House of Jelačić
The Jelačić family is an old Croatian noble family, remarkable during the period in history marked by the Ottoman wars in Europe in the Kingdom of Croatia and Hungary and in the later Austro-Hungarian Empire...
. He began his service in the Habsburg
Habsburg Monarchy
The Habsburg Monarchy covered the territories ruled by the junior Austrian branch of the House of Habsburg , and then by the successor House of Habsburg-Lorraine , between 1526 and 1867/1918. The Imperial capital was Vienna, except from 1583 to 1611, when it was moved to Prague...
army as a Grenz infantry
Grenz infantry
Grenz infantry or Grenzers were light infantry troops who came from the Croatian and Transylvanian Military Frontier in Habsburg Monarchy . This borderland formed a buffer zone between Christian Europe and the Ottoman Empire, and the troops were originally raised to defend Austria against the...
officer and fought against the Ottoman Turks
Ottoman Turks
The Ottoman Turks were the Turkish-speaking population of the Ottoman Empire who formed the base of the state's military and ruling classes. Reliable information about the early history of Ottoman Turks is scarce, but they take their Turkish name, Osmanlı , from the house of Osman I The Ottoman...
. During the French Revolutionary Wars
French Revolutionary Wars
The French Revolutionary Wars were a series of major conflicts, from 1792 until 1802, fought between the French Revolutionary government and several European states...
he received promotion to the rank of general officer and won an outstanding victory. His later career proved that his martial abilities were limited. He twice led independent division-sized forces in the Napoleonic Wars
Napoleonic Wars
The Napoleonic Wars were a series of wars declared against Napoleon's French Empire by opposing coalitions that ran from 1803 to 1815. As a continuation of the wars sparked by the French Revolution of 1789, they revolutionised European armies and played out on an unprecedented scale, mainly due to...
, with unhappy results. He was Proprietor (Inhaber)
Proprietor (Inhaber)
A Proprietor, or Inhaber, was a term used in the Habsburg military to denote special honors extended to a noble or aristocrat. The Habsburg army was organized on principles developed for the feudal armies in which regiments were raised by a wealthy noble, called the Inhaber who also acted as...
of an Austrian infantry regiment from 1802 until his death.
Early career
Born in 1746 at PetrinjaPetrinja
Petrinja is a city in central Croatia near Sisak in the historic region of Banovina. The city belongs to Sisak-Moslavina County .- History :The name of Petrinja has its roots in Latin petrus, meaning "stone"...
in the Kingdom of Croatia of the Habsburg Monarchy
Kingdom of Croatia (Habsburg)
The Kingdom of Croatia was an administrative division that existed between 1527 and 1868 within the Habsburg Monarchy . The Kingdom was a part of the Lands of the Crown of St. Stephen, but was subject to direct Imperial Austrian rule for significant periods of time, including its final years...
, Jelačić became an officer cadet in the 1st Banal Grenz Infantry
Grenz infantry
Grenz infantry or Grenzers were light infantry troops who came from the Croatian and Transylvanian Military Frontier in Habsburg Monarchy . This borderland formed a buffer zone between Christian Europe and the Ottoman Empire, and the troops were originally raised to defend Austria against the...
Regiment in 1763. He was appointed to Captain in 1772 and Major
Major
Major is a rank of commissioned officer, with corresponding ranks existing in almost every military in the world.When used unhyphenated, in conjunction with no other indicator of rank, the term refers to the rank just senior to that of an Army captain and just below the rank of lieutenant colonel. ...
in 1783. He participated in the Austro-Turkish War (1787-1791)
Austro-Turkish War (1787-1791)
The Austro-Turkish War of 1787 was an inconclusive struggle between the Austrian and Ottoman Empires. It took place concomitantly with the Russo-Turkish War of 1787-1792.-History:...
and earned promotion to Oberstleutnant
Oberstleutnant
Oberstleutnant is a German Army and Air Force rank equal to Lieutenant Colonel, above Major, and below Oberst.There are two paygrade associated to the rank of Oberstleutnant...
(lieutenant colonel). Still serving with the Grenz infantry of the Habsburg Monarchy
Habsburg Monarchy
The Habsburg Monarchy covered the territories ruled by the junior Austrian branch of the House of Habsburg , and then by the successor House of Habsburg-Lorraine , between 1526 and 1867/1918. The Imperial capital was Vienna, except from 1583 to 1611, when it was moved to Prague...
army, Jelačić was elevated to the rank of Oberst
Oberst
Oberst is a military rank in several German-speaking and Scandinavian countries, equivalent to Colonel. It is currently used by both the ground and air forces of Austria, Germany, Switzerland, Denmark and Norway. The Swedish rank överste is a direct translation, as are the Finnish rank eversti...
(Colonel
Colonel
Colonel , abbreviated Col or COL, is a military rank of a senior commissioned officer. It or a corresponding rank exists in most armies and in many air forces; the naval equivalent rank is generally "Captain". It is also used in some police forces and other paramilitary rank structures...
) in 1794. He fought in the War of the First Coalition on the upper Rhine River, at the Battle of Würzburg
Battle of Würzburg
The Battle of Würzburg was fought on 3 September 1796 between an army of Habsburg Austria led by Archduke Charles, Duke of Teschen and an army of the First French Republic led by Jean-Baptiste Jourdan. The French attacked the archduke's forces, but they were resisted until the arrival of...
, and in other actions. His promotion to General-Major
Brigadier General
Brigadier general is a senior rank in the armed forces. It is the lowest ranking general officer in some countries, usually sitting between the ranks of colonel and major general. When appointed to a field command, a brigadier general is typically in command of a brigade consisting of around 4,000...
came through in March 1797.
On 23 March 1799 at Feldkirch in the Voralberg
Feldkirch, Vorarlberg
- Schools :* Bundesgymnasium und Bundesrealgymnasium Feldkirch * Bundeshandelsakademie und Bundeshandelsschule Feldkirch* Bundesoberstufenrealgymnasium und Bundesrealgymnasium Schillerstrasse...
, Jelačić led his 5,500 soldiers to victory over 12,000 Frenchmen commanded by Jean-Joseph, Marquis Dessolles
Jean-Joseph, Marquis Dessolles
Jean Joseph Paul Augustin, Marquis Dessolles was a French statesman. He was the prime minister of France from 29 December 1818 to 18 November 1819....
. The Austrians inflicted 3,000 casualties on their enemies at a cost of 900 killed and wounded. His command included the 3rd battalions of the Kaunitz Infantry Regiment # 20, De Vins Infantry Regiment # 37, and Peterwardeiner Grenz Regiment # 9; the 2nd battalion of the St. George Gernz Infantry # 6, and the 1st battalion of the Broder Grenz Infantry Regiment # 7. For this remarkable feat, he received promotion to Feldmarschall-Leutnant (Lieutenant Field Marshal) and was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Military Order of Maria Theresa
Military Order of Maria Theresa
The Military Order of Maria Theresa was an Order of the Austro-Hungarian Empire founded on June 18, 1757, the day of the Battle of Kolin, by the Empress...
. He was also given the title of hereditary baron
Baron
Baron is a title of nobility. The word baron comes from Old French baron, itself from Old High German and Latin baro meaning " man, warrior"; it merged with cognate Old English beorn meaning "nobleman"...
. In 1802 Emperor Francis II appointed him proprietor of Franz Jellačić Infantry Regiment # 62, a new Hungarian outfit. This unit should not be confused with the Johann Jellačić Infantry Regiment # 53. In 1801, his wife Ana Portner von Höflein gave birth to their son Josip Jelačić
Josip Jelacic
Count Josip Jelačić of Bužim was the Ban of Croatia between 23 March 1848 and 19 May 1859...
, who also became a general and supported the Austrian regime during the Hungarian Revolution of 1848
Hungarian Revolution of 1848
The Hungarian Revolution of 1848 was one of many of the European Revolutions of 1848 and closely linked to other revolutions of 1848 in the Habsburg areas...
.
Napoleonic Wars
In 1805, Jelačić commanded a corps in the army of Archduke Ferdinand Karl Joseph of Austria-EsteArchduke Ferdinand Karl Joseph of Austria-Este
Archduke Ferdinand Karl Joseph of Austria-Este was the third son of Archduke Ferdinand of Austria-Este and of his wife Princess Maria Beatrice Ricciarda d'Este, last member and heiress of the house of Este. For much of the Napoleonic Wars he was in command of the Austrian army.Ferdinand was born...
and Karl Mack von Leiberich
Karl Mack von Leiberich
Karl Mack von Leiberich, Freiherr was an Austrian soldier. He is best remembered as the commander of the Austrian forces that capitulated to Napoleon's Grande Armée in the Battle of Ulm in 1805. Historians of the late 20th century widely agree that he was among the poorest of the commanders of the...
during the Ulm Campaign
Ulm Campaign
The Ulm Campaign consisted of a series of French and Bavarian military maneuvers and battles to outflank and capture an Austrian army in 1805 during the War of the Third Coalition. It took place in the vicinity of and inside the Swabian city of Ulm...
. At first his troops defended Biberach an der Riss. Around 6 October, Mack ordered Jelačić to move toward Ulm
Ulm
Ulm is a city in the federal German state of Baden-Württemberg, situated on the River Danube. The city, whose population is estimated at 120,000 , forms an urban district of its own and is the administrative seat of the Alb-Donau district. Ulm, founded around 850, is rich in history and...
. At this time, Jelačić commanded 15,000 troops organized in 16 infantry battalions, six jäger
Jäger
Jäger is the German word for "hunter", and also a common Jäger is the [[German language|German]] word for "[[hunter]]", and also a common Jäger is the [[German...
companies, and six cavalry squadrons. Emperor Napoleon I of France
Napoleon I of France
Napoleon Bonaparte was a French military and political leader during the latter stages of the French Revolution.As Napoleon I, he was Emperor of the French from 1804 to 1815...
and his Grande Armée began to envelop the Austrian army. During the Battle of Wertingen
Battle of Wertingen
In the Battle of Wertingen on October 8, 1805, French forces led by Marshals Joachim Murat and Jean Lannes mauled a small Austrian corps commanded by Feldmarschall-Leutnant Franz Auffenberg. This was the opening battle of the Ulm Campaign.-Background:...
on 8 October, the Battle of Günzburg
Battle of Günzburg
The Battle of Günzburg on 9 October 1805 saw General of Division Jean-Pierre Firmin Malher's French division attempt to seize a crossing over the Danube River at Günzburg in the face of a Habsburg Austrian army led by Feldmarschall-Leutnant Karl Mack von Lieberich. Malher's division managed to...
on 9 October, and the Battle of Haslach-Jungingen
Battle of Haslach-Jungingen
The Battle of Haslach-Jungingen, also known as the Battle of Albeck, fought on 11 October 1805 at Ulm-Jungingen north of Ulm at the Danube, was part of the War of the Third Coalition, which was a part of the greater Napoleonic Wars.-Background:...
on 11 October, the Grande Armée began to close in on its prey. On the 12th, Mack reorganized his army, making Jelačić one of four corps commanders, the others being Johann Sigismund Riesch
Johann Sigismund Riesch
Johann Sigismund Graf von Riesch joined the army of Habsburg Austria as a cavalry officer and, during his career, fought against the Kingdom of Prussia, Ottoman Turkey, Revolutionary France, and Napoleon's French Empire...
, Franz von Werneck
Franz von Werneck
Franz Freiherr von Werneck, born 13 October 1748 – died 17 January 1806, enlisted in the army of Habsburg Austria and fought in the Austro-Turkish War, the French Revolutionary Wars, and the Napoleonic Wars. He enjoyed a distinguished career until 1797, when he lost a battle and was dismissed...
, and Karl Philipp, Prince of Schwarzenberg
Karl Philipp, Prince of Schwarzenberg
Karl Philipp Fürst zu Schwarzenberg Karl Philipp Fürst zu Schwarzenberg Karl Philipp Fürst zu Schwarzenberg (or Charles Philip, Prince of Schwarzenberg (April 18, 1771 – October 15, 1820) was an Austrian field marshal.- Life :...
. He then ordered Jelačić to march south toward the Tyrol
County of Tyrol
The County of Tyrol, Princely County from 1504, was a State of the Holy Roman Empire, from 1814 a province of the Austrian Empire and from 1867 a Cisleithanian crown land of Austria-Hungary...
via Ochsenhausen
Ochsenhausen
Ochsenhausen is a city in the district of Biberach, Baden-Württemberg, Germany. It is located between the city of Biberach and Memmingen. it has a population of 8,916...
for no explainable reason.
Battle of Ulm
The Battle of Ulm was a series of minor skirmishes at the end of Napoleon Bonaparte's Ulm Campaign, culminating in the surrender of an entire Austrian army near Ulm in Württemberg....
and made it to the Voralberg near Lake Constance
Lake Constance
Lake Constance is a lake on the Rhine at the northern foot of the Alps, and consists of three bodies of water: the Obersee , the Untersee , and a connecting stretch of the Rhine, called the Seerhein.The lake is situated in Germany, Switzerland and Austria near the Alps...
. Napoleon assigned Marshal
Marshal of France
The Marshal of France is a military distinction in contemporary France, not a military rank. It is granted to generals for exceptional achievements...
Pierre Augereau and his 12,000-man corps to hunt down Jelačić. In a series of small actions, Augereau drove the Austrians steadily back and managed to split their forces apart. Jelačić surrendered to Augereau with his remaining 4,000 troops at Dornbirn
Dornbirn
Dornbirn is a city in Vorarlberg, Austria. It is the administrative center of the district Dornbirn, which also includes the city of Hohenems, and the market town Lustenau....
on 13 November. Under the terms of surrender, the Austrians were repatriated to Bohemia with the promise not to fight against France for one year. One thousand of his cavalry, under General-Major Christian Wolfskeel von Reichenberg and Colonels Wartensleben and Kinsky, made a remarkable march through Bavaria
Bavaria
Bavaria, formally the Free State of Bavaria is a state of Germany, located in the southeast of Germany. With an area of , it is the largest state by area, forming almost 20% of the total land area of Germany...
and reached Bohemia
Bohemia
Bohemia is a historical region in central Europe, occupying the western two-thirds of the traditional Czech Lands. It is located in the contemporary Czech Republic with its capital in Prague...
in safety. Another portion of the Voralberg force under Prince Viktor Rohan tried to reach Venice
Venice
Venice is a city in northern Italy which is renowned for the beauty of its setting, its architecture and its artworks. It is the capital of the Veneto region...
but was caught 40 kilometers short of its goal. Rohan surrendered to Laurent Gouvion Saint-Cyr and Jean Reynier
Jean Reynier
Jean Louis Ebénézer Reynier rose in rank to become a French army general officer during the French Revolutionary Wars. He led a division under Napoleon Bonaparte in the French Campaign in Egypt and Syria...
at Castelfranco Veneto
Castelfranco Veneto
Castelfranco Veneto is a town and comune of Veneto, northern Italy, in the province of Treviso, 30 km by rail from the town of Treviso. It is approximately 40 km inland from Venice.-History:...
. Jelačić soon retired from military service.
Brought out of retirement for the War of the Fifth Coalition
War of the Fifth Coalition
The War of the Fifth Coalition, fought in the year 1809, pitted a coalition of the Austrian Empire and the United Kingdom against Napoleon's French Empire and Bavaria. Major engagements between France and Austria, the main participants, unfolded over much of Central Europe from April to July, with...
, Jelačić took command of an infantry division in Johann von Hiller
Johann von Hiller
Johann Baron von Hiller, June 10, 1754 – June 5, 1819, was an Austrian general during the French Revolutionary Wars and the Napoleonic Wars...
's VI Armeekorps. Originally, the division included two line infantry brigades under Konstantin von Ettingshausen and Josef Hoffmeister von Hoffeneck. On the outbreak of war, Hoffmeister's brigade was exchanged for the light brigade of Karl Dollmayer von Provenchères. The division was detached from VI Armeekorps and sent to occupy Munich
Munich
Munich The city's motto is "" . Before 2006, it was "Weltstadt mit Herz" . Its native name, , is derived from the Old High German Munichen, meaning "by the monks' place". The city's name derives from the monks of the Benedictine order who founded the city; hence the monk depicted on the city's coat...
. After the Austrian defeats at the battles of Abensberg
Battle of Abensberg
The Battle of Abensberg took place on 20 April 1809, between a Franco-German force under the command of Emperor Napoleon I of France and a reinforced Austrian corps led by Feldmarschall-Leutnant Archduke Louis of Austria. As the day wore on, Feldmarschall-Leutnant Johann von Hiller arrived with...
, Landshut
Battle of Landshut (1809)
The Battle of Landshut took place on April 21, 1809, between the French, Württembergers and Bavarians under Napoleon which numbered about 77,000 strong, and 36,000 Austrians under the General Johann von Hiller...
, and Eckmuhl
Battle of Eckmühl
The Battle of Eckmühl fought on 21 April – 22 April 1809, was the turning point of the 1809 Campaign, also known as the War of the Fifth Coalition...
from 20 to 22 April 1809, Hiller retreated rapidly east and Jelačić was ordered back to Salzburg
Salzburg
-Population development:In 1935, the population significantly increased when Salzburg absorbed adjacent municipalities. After World War II, numerous refugees found a new home in the city. New residential space was created for American soldiers of the postwar Occupation, and could be used for...
.
Jelačić's 10,000-man division was assigned to the army of Archduke John of Austria. On 29 April the Bavarians occupied Salzburg as Jelačić slipped away to the south. He successfully defended the Lueg Pass near Golling an der Salzach
Golling an der Salzach
Golling an der Salzach is a market town in the Hallein district of Salzburg, Austria.-References:...
on 1 and 4–5 May, twice defeating a Bavarian brigade. He sent Provenchères and almost all of his cavalry to join the main army. John desired Jelačić to join him, but his orders were ambiguously worded. Misinterpreting his orders as requiring him to hold his isolated position, he stayed in place until 19 May. When Jelačić finally realized his danger and withdrew toward Graz
Graz
The more recent population figures do not give the whole picture as only people with principal residence status are counted and people with secondary residence status are not. Most of the people with secondary residence status in Graz are students...
, it was too late. Believing his artillery to be of little use in the mountains, he sent most of it ahead of his column, retaining only four cannons. On 25 May, Paul Grenier
Paul Grenier
Paul Grenier joined the French royal army and rapidly rose to general officer rank during the French Revolutionary Wars. He led a division in the 1796-1797 campaign in southern Germany. During the 1800 campaign in the Electorate of Bavaria he was a wing commander...
's 12,000 to 15,000 strong Franco-Italian corps caught up with his division at the Battle of Sankt Michael
Battle of Sankt Michael
In the Battle of Sankt Michael on 25 May 1809, Paul Grenier's French corps crushed Franz Jellacic's Austrian division at Sankt Michael in Obersteiermark, Austria. The action occurred after the initial French victories during the War of the Fifth Coalition, part of the Napoleonic Wars...
near Leoben
Leoben
Leoben is a Styrian city in central Austria, located by the Mur river. With a population of about 25,000 it is a local industrial center and hosts the University of Leoben which specialises in mining...
on 25 May. Without sufficient artillery and cavalry support, Jelačić's 9,000 troops were overwhelmed, suffering 423 dead, 1,137 wounded, and 4,963 captured. French losses numbered only 670. Historian Gunther E. Rothenberg
Gunther E. Rothenberg
Gunther E. Rothenberg was an internationally known military historian. Although widely known for his books and journal articles on the French Revolutionary Wars and the Napoleonic Wars, Rothenberg also had a fifteen-year military career, serving in the British Army, the Haganah, and the United...
called Jelačić "a remarkably unlucky and inept general."
Jelačić and his survivors joined Archduke John's retreat across Hungary
Hungary
Hungary , officially the Republic of Hungary , is a landlocked country in Central Europe. It is situated in the Carpathian Basin and is bordered by Slovakia to the north, Ukraine and Romania to the east, Serbia and Croatia to the south, Slovenia to the southwest and Austria to the west. The...
. At the Battle of Raab
Battle of Raab
The Battle of Raab was fought on 14 June 1809 during the Napoleonic Wars, between Franco-Italian forces and Austrian-Hungarian forces. The battle was fought near Győr in Hungary and ended in a Franco-Italian victory...
, he commanded 7,500 infantry of the right flank division. With help from the army reserve, his soldiers drove off the first Franco-Italian attack, but the action ended in an Austrian defeat. He commanded his division at the Battle of Wagram
Battle of Wagram
The Battle of Wagram was the decisive military engagement of the War of the Fifth Coalition. It took place on the Marchfeld plain, on the north bank of the Danube. An important site of the battle was the village of Deutsch-Wagram, 10 kilometres northeast of Vienna, which would give its name to the...
but John's army arrived too late on the field to have any effect on the outcome. He died on 4 February 1810 at Zalaapáti
Zalaapáti
Zalaapáti is a village in Zala county, Hungary.-References:...
in modern-day Hungary.