Battles & Campaigns · 1814
Battle of La Rothière
La Rothière, Aube, France
What happened
Allied armies under Blücher and Schwarzenberg, from Austria, Bavaria, Prussia, Russia and Württemberg, attacked Napoleon. After Brienne, the allied armies joined together and attacked Napoleon's smaller army. Snow fell during the battle, and wet snow soaked many muskets so that they would not fire. The French held on until dark and then withdrew in a snowstorm.
Why it matters
Why it matters: It showed that Napoleon could be beaten on French soil. The allies were greatly encouraged.
What came next
The allied armies then split up again, and Napoleon struck back in the Six Days' Campaign, winning at Champaubert and Montmirail.
Did you know?
Because the muskets were too wet to fire, Russian soldiers attacked the village with bayonets instead.
Timeline
- 29 January 1814Battle of Brienne.
- 1 February 1814Battle of La Rothière.
- 10 February 1814Battle of Champaubert.