Battle of Rovereto
Rovereto, Adige valley, Italy
What happened
Napoleon's French army, with Masséna and Claude-Victor Perrin, fought an Austrian corps under Paul Davidovich. Austria was making a second attempt to relieve the fortress of Mantua, which the French were besieging. Bonaparte marched north up the Adige valley with three divisions and pushed Davidovich's troops back all day, breaking them in the afternoon. Davidovich withdrew far to the north.
Why it matters
The win let Bonaparte chase Wurmser's army down the Brenta valley. That chase ended with Wurmser trapped inside Mantua.
What came next
Masséna entered Trento on 5 September. Bonaparte then beat Wurmser at Bassano on 8 September.
Did you know?
Two Austrian commanders thought they were safe and let their troops cook dinner at Calliano, until the French stormed the camp.
Timeline
- 4 September 1796Battle of Rovereto.
- 5 September 1796Masséna enters Trento.
- 8 September 1796Battle of Bassano.
- 2 February 1797Wurmser surrenders Mantua.