Battles & Campaigns · 1799
Battle of Novi
Novi Ligure, Piedmont, Italy
What happened
Austrian troops attacked the French left at dawn, but their uphill assault through vineyards stalled. The French commander Joubert fell early in the fighting, and Moreau took over. Repeated Allied attacks were beaten back until late afternoon, when a new attack broke the French line and the French army retreated.
Why it matters
Why it matters: It was a Coalition victory that badly weakened the French hold on the Italian Riviera, after France had already lost Milan and Turin.
What came next
Suvorov was ordered to Switzerland instead of pressing on to Genoa. There the French won the Second Battle of Zurich in September.
Did you know?
Suvorov sent his report of the battle to Admiral Fyodor Ushakov, who was then campaigning in the Mediterranean.
Timeline
- 17–20 June 1799Battle of the Trebbia.
- 15 August 1799Battle of Novi.
- 25–26 September 1799Second Battle of Zurich.