Battle of Bassano
Bassano del Grappa, Italy
What happened
Napoleon's French army, with Masséna and Lannes, fought the Austrian army of Dagobert Sigmund von Wurmser. Wurmser was marching toward Mantua to relieve the French siege. The French attacked from the north and overwhelmed the Austrian rearguard, and a charge led by Lannes broke the Austrian lines and entered Bassano. Wurmser's main force turned west toward Mantua.
Why it matters
Wurmser ended up shut inside Mantua, and Austria's second attempt to relieve the city failed. But Napoleon's army was now stretched thin holding both Trento and Bassano.
What came next
Wurmser held out in Mantua until 2 February 1797. Two months after this battle, Napoleon lost the Second Battle of Bassano.
Did you know?
This page calls it 'the last battle in Napoleon's perfect military career', because he lost at the same town two months later.
Timeline
- 8 September 1796Battle of Bassano.
- 6 November 1796Second Battle of Bassano.
- 2 February 1797Wurmser surrenders Mantua.