Battle of Bautzen
Bautzen, Saxony, Germany
What happened
Napoleon's French army fought a Russian and Prussian army under Peter Wittgenstein and Gebhard von Blücher. After losing at Lützen, the Russian and Prussian army made a stand along two defence lines east of the River Spree. Napoleon's troops took the town of Bautzen and pushed the allies back over two days. But the allies escaped being surrounded and retreated in good order.
Why it matters
Why it matters: Napoleon won but could not destroy the allied army. It is often called a 'Pyrrhic victory', a win that cost almost as much as a defeat.
What came next
Both sides agreed a truce in June. When fighting began again, Austria joined Napoleon's enemies.
Did you know?
On St Helena, Napoleon reportedly said that agreeing to the truce after Bautzen was a serious mistake.
Timeline
- 20–21 May 1813Battle of Bautzen.
- 23 May 1813Napoleon's friend General Duroc dies of wounds.
- 4 June 1813Armistice of Pläswitz.
- August 1813Fighting resumes; Austria joins the allies.