Second Battle of Zürich
Encyclopedia
The Second Battle of Zurich (25–26 September 1799) was a French victory over an Austrian and Russian force near Zurich
. It broke the stalemate that had resulted from the First Battle of Zurich
three months earlier and led to the withdrawal of Russia from the Second Coalition
.
After he had been forced out of the city in June, French general André Masséna
had fortified his position on the Zürichberg
. General Korsakov
's Russians took control of the city. Russian general Alexander Suvorov
was also supposed to join forces with Korsakov, marching across the Gotthard pass, but Suvorov's army was harassed by a small force sent by Masséna and did not reach Zurich in time. The coalition forces greatly outnumbered the French, so Korsakov sent more than half his force of around 50,000 men to cut off the French line of retreat.
Most of the fighting took place on both banks of the river Limmat
up to the gates of Zurich, and within the city itself. General Oudinot commanded the French forces on the right bank and general Mortier
those on the left. At the same time General Soult
attacked and defeated the Austrians on the river Linth
under Field Marshal Baron Hotze, who was killed early in the day.
Masséna then rounded on the Austrian commanders with a brilliant offensive operation and drove their army away; killing, wounding and capturing almost 14,000 Austrians and Russians.
was weakened, losing its support among the population, leading to the Act of Mediation
of 1803, partly restoring pre-revolutionary conditions.
Zürich
Zurich is the largest city in Switzerland and the capital of the canton of Zurich. It is located in central Switzerland at the northwestern tip of Lake Zurich...
. It broke the stalemate that had resulted from the First Battle of Zurich
First Battle of Zürich
The Helvetic Republic in 1798 became a battlefield of the French Revolutionary Wars. In the First Battle of Zurich on 4 – 7 June 1799, French general André Masséna was forced to yield the city to the Austrians under Archduke Charles and retreated beyond the Limmat, where he managed to fortify his...
three months earlier and led to the withdrawal of Russia from the Second Coalition
War of the Second Coalition
The "Second Coalition" was the second attempt by European monarchs, led by the Habsburg Monarchy of Austria and the Russian Empire, to contain or eliminate Revolutionary France. They formed a new alliance and attempted to roll back France's previous military conquests...
.
After he had been forced out of the city in June, French general André Masséna
André Masséna
André Masséna 1st Duc de Rivoli, 1st Prince d'Essling was a French military commander during the Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars....
had fortified his position on the Zürichberg
Zürichberg
The Zürichberg is a wooded hill rising to 679 metres , overlooking Lake Zurich and located immediately to the east of the City of Zurich in Switzerland, between the valleys of the Limmat and the Glatt rivers...
. General Korsakov
Alexander Korsakov
Alexander Mikhailovich Rimsky-Korsakov was a Russian General remembered as an unlucky assistant to Alexander Suvorov during his Swiss expedition of 1799–1800....
's Russians took control of the city. Russian general Alexander Suvorov
Alexander Suvorov
Alexander Vasilyevich Suvorov , Count Suvorov of Rymnik, Prince in Italy, Count of the Holy Roman Empire , was the fourth and last generalissimo of the Russian Empire.One of the few great generals in history who never lost a battle along with the likes of Alexander...
was also supposed to join forces with Korsakov, marching across the Gotthard pass, but Suvorov's army was harassed by a small force sent by Masséna and did not reach Zurich in time. The coalition forces greatly outnumbered the French, so Korsakov sent more than half his force of around 50,000 men to cut off the French line of retreat.
Battle
Masséna turned on the coalition army under General Korsakov, which he defeated, capturing their cannons and other supplies and inflicting about 8,000 casualties.Most of the fighting took place on both banks of the river Limmat
Limmat
The Limmat is a river in Switzerland. It is the continuation of the Linth river, known as Limmat from the point of effluence from Lake Zurich, in the city of Zurich. From Zurich it flows in a northwesterly direction, after 35 km reaching the river Aare...
up to the gates of Zurich, and within the city itself. General Oudinot commanded the French forces on the right bank and general Mortier
Édouard Adolphe Casimir Joseph Mortier
Édouard Adolphe Casimir Joseph Mortier, 1st Duc de Trévise was a French general and Marshal of France under Napoleon I.-Biography:...
those on the left. At the same time General Soult
Nicolas Jean de Dieu Soult
Nicolas Jean-de-Dieu Soult, 1st Duke of Dalmatia , the Hand of Iron, was a French general and statesman, named Marshal of the Empire in 1804. He was one of only six officers in French history to receive the distinction of Marshal General of France...
attacked and defeated the Austrians on the river Linth
Linth
The Linth is a Swiss river starting above Linthal the mountains of Glarus near the Klausen Pass and flowing from there north through the Glarus valley passing Schwanden, where it is joined by its main tributary Sernft, Ennenda, the town of Glarus, Netstal, and Näfels, from where it is channeled to...
under Field Marshal Baron Hotze, who was killed early in the day.
Masséna then rounded on the Austrian commanders with a brilliant offensive operation and drove their army away; killing, wounding and capturing almost 14,000 Austrians and Russians.
Aftermath
France was saved from an imminent invasion because Russia withdrew from the Second Coalition. The Helvetic RepublicHelvetic Republic
In Swiss history, the Helvetic Republic represented an early attempt to impose a central authority over Switzerland, which until then consisted mainly of self-governing cantons united by a loose military alliance, and conquered territories such as Vaud...
was weakened, losing its support among the population, leading to the Act of Mediation
Act of Mediation
The Act of Mediation was issued by Napoleon Bonaparte on 19 February 1803 establishing the Swiss Confederation. The act also abolished the previous Helvetic Republic, which had existed since the invasion of Switzerland by French troops in 1798. After the withdrawal of French troops in July 1802,...
of 1803, partly restoring pre-revolutionary conditions.
See also
- Switzerland in the Napoleonic eraSwitzerland in the Napoleonic eraDuring the French Revolutionary Wars, the revolutionary armies marched eastward, enveloping Switzerland in their battles against Austria. In 1798 Switzerland was completely overrun by the French and became the Helvetic Republic. The Helvetic Republic encountered severe economic and political problems...
- French Revolutionary Wars: Campaigns of 1799French Revolutionary Wars: Campaigns of 1799By 1799, the French Revolutionary Wars had resumed after a period of relative peace in 1798. The Second Coalition had organized against France, with Great Britain allying with Russia, Austria, the Ottoman Empire, and several of the minor German and Italian states...
External links
- map of French fortifications in June 1799
- http://www.raefis-burgerau.ch/geschichte.htm