Battles & Campaigns · 1814
Battle of Craonne
Craonne, Aisne, France
What happened
Napoleon, with Ney and Nansouty, attacked Russian troops under Mikhail Vorontsov, part of Blücher's army. Napoleon hoped to reach Laon before Blücher. Instead he met Vorontsov's Russians on the ridge called the Chemin des Dames. After hard fighting, the Russians were forced to withdraw.
Why it matters
Why it matters: The French held the field but did not reach their goals, so historians call it a costly victory. It led straight to the battle at Laon.
What came next
Two days later Napoleon was beaten at Laon. The campaign moved on toward Arcis-sur-Aube.
Did you know?
One French unit, made of soldiers from Joseph Bonaparte's old Spanish Guard, lost 32 officers in the fighting.
Timeline
- 7 March 1814Battle of Craonne.
- 9–10 March 1814Battle of Laon.
- 13 March 1814Napoleon retakes Reims.
- 20–21 March 1814Battle of Arcis-sur-Aube.