Battles & Campaigns · 1796
Battle of Rastatt (1796)
Rastatt, Baden-Württemberg, Germany
What happened
French troops under Jean Moreau and Louis Desaix attacked Austrian forces under Count Baillet de Latour. After crossing the Rhine at Kehl, the French marched north. Desaix attacked Latour's line along the Murg River near Rastatt, turned both Austrian flanks, and pushed them back.
Why it matters
It moved the French invasion of Germany forward. The French captured 200 Austrians and three guns.
What came next
Four days later the armies fought a bigger battle at Ettlingen, after which the Austrians retreated east.
Did you know?
The French got some artillery when a German militia abandoned its cannons at Kehl.
Timeline
- 24 Jun 1796Moreau crosses the Rhine at Kehl.
- 5 Jul 1796Battle of Rastatt.
- 9 Jul 1796Battle of Ettlingen.