Battles & Campaigns · 1799
Second Battle of Zurich
Zürich, Switzerland
What happened
At dawn on 25 September, Masséna's troops crossed the Limmat River near Dietikon while other French forces made feint attacks elsewhere. Korsakov's Russians were spread out and lost ground on the hills around Zürich. Korsakov pulled back into the city and then retreated toward the Rhine.
Why it matters
Why it matters: The page calls it arguably the most important French victory of 1799. It ended the stalemate left by the First Battle of Zurich three months earlier.
What came next
Russia left the Second Coalition. Suvorov, arriving from Italy, had to escape east over the Alps, and the last Coalition troops left Switzerland in October.
Did you know?
The village names Dietikon and Muotathal are carved on the Arc de Triomphe in Paris.
Timeline
- 15 August 1799Battle of Novi.
- 25–26 September 1799Second Battle of Zurich.
- 15 October 1799Last Coalition troops leave Switzerland.